第二十六章
重为轻根，静为躁君。
是以君子终日行不离辎重。
虽有荣观，燕处超然。
奈何万乘之主，而以身轻天下？
轻则失本，躁则失君。
The heavy is the root of the light;
The still is the lord of the restless.
Therefore, the gentleman travels all day
Without leaving the weighty carriage.
Though splendid in view,
He remains calm and detached.
How can the ruler of ten thousand chariots
Take his own body lightly in the world?
If one is light, one loses the root;
If restless, one loses dominion.
问答讲解
问：这里的“重”与“静”是什么意思？
答：“重”指稳重，“静”指安定。领导者若轻浮躁动，就会失去根本与权威。
Q: What do “heavy” and “still” mean here?
A: “Heavy” means being steady, “still” means being calm. A ruler who is frivolous and restless loses his foundation and authority.
第二十七章
善行，无辙迹；善言，无瑕谪；善数，不用筹策；
善闭，无关楗而不可开；善结，无绳约而不可解。
是以圣人常善救人，故无弃人；常善救物，故无弃物。
是谓袭明。
故善人者，不善人之师；不善人者，善人之资。
不贵其师，不爱其资，虽智大迷。
是谓要妙。
The best traveler leaves no tracks;
The best speaker makes no flaws;
The best reckoner uses no tally sticks.
The best door is shut without bolts, yet cannot be opened;
The best binding is done without rope, yet cannot be undone.
Thus the sage always excels in saving people, and so abandons no one.
He always excels in saving things, and so abandons nothing.
This is called following the light.
Therefore, the good person is the teacher of the bad,
And the bad person is the resource of the good.
If one does not value the teacher or love the resource,
One may be wise but is greatly deluded.
This is called the essential mystery.
问答讲解
问：为什么说“善人者，不善人之师”？
答：因为圣人善于启发和引导，即使不善的人也能成为学习与反思的机会。人与人之间是互为镜子的关系。
Q: Why is it said “the good person is the teacher of the bad”?
A: Because sages guide through wisdom. Even the bad provide opportunities for reflection. People serve as mirrors for each other.
第二十八章
知其雄，守其雌，为天下溪。
为天下溪，常德不离，复归于婴儿。
知其白，守其黑，为天下式。
为天下式，常德不忒，复归于无极。
知其荣，守其辱，为天下谷。
为天下谷，常德乃足，复归于朴。
朴散则为器，圣人用之则为官长。
故大制不割。
Know the male, but keep to the female,
And be the valley of the world.
Being the valley of the world,
Virtue will never leave you,
And you will return to the state of an infant.
Know the white, but keep to the black,
And be the model of the world.
Being the model of the world,
Virtue will never err,
And you will return to the infinite.
Know the honor, but keep to the disgrace,
And be the valley of the world.
Being the valley of the world,
Virtue will be sufficient,
And you will return to the uncarved block.
When the uncarved block is scattered, it becomes tools.
The sage uses them and becomes the chief of officials.
Thus the great system does not cut apart.
问答讲解
问：这一章为什么反复强调“守雌、守黑、守辱”？
答：老子提倡谦卑、包容，回归质朴。像水一样居下位，才能容纳一切，最终成就大道。
Q: Why does this chapter emphasize “keeping to the female, the black, the disgrace”?
A: Because Laozi values humility and receptivity. Like water in the low place, it embraces all, leading back to Dao’s wholeness.
第二十九章
将欲取天下而为之，吾见其不得已。
天下神器，不可为也，不可执也。
为者败之，执者失之。
是以圣人无为，故无败；无执，故无失。
夫物或行或随；或嘘或吹；或强或羸；或载或隳。
是以圣人去甚，去奢，去泰。
Those who wish to take the world and act upon it—
I see that they cannot succeed.
The world is a sacred vessel;
It cannot be acted upon, it cannot be grasped.
Those who act upon it will ruin it;
Those who hold onto it will lose it.
Therefore, the sage does not act, and so does not ruin;
Does not hold, and so does not lose.
Some things lead, some follow;
Some breathe out, some breathe in;
Some are strong, some are weak;
Some are carried, some are destroyed.
Therefore, the sage avoids excess, extravagance, and pride.
问答讲解
问：为什么说“天下神器，不可为也”？
答：天下如神圣的器物，不可强取强治。过度干预只会破坏。圣人顺应自然，不妄为，所以无败无失。
Q: Why is it said “the world is a sacred vessel, not to be acted upon”?
A: Because the world is like a sacred object—forcing control only leads to ruin. The sage aligns with nature, avoids excess, and thus does not fail.
第三十章
以道佐人主者，不以兵强天下。
其事好还。
师之所处，荆棘生焉。
大军之后，必有凶年。
善有果而已，不以取强。
果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿骄。
果而不得已，果而勿强。
物壮则老，是谓不道，不道早已。
One who assists the ruler with Dao
Does not use force to dominate the world.
Such affairs easily rebound.
Where armies have camped,
Thorns and briars grow.
After great wars,
Bad years inevitably follow.
The sage achieves results but does not boast,
Achieves results but does not flaunt,
Achieves results but is not proud,
Achieves results only because he must,
Achieves results but does not compel.
Things strong grow old—
This is called being against Dao.
What is against Dao soon perishes.
问答讲解
问：老子对战争的态度是什么？
答：反对以武力强行治世。战争带来破坏，即便胜利，也不可骄矜。过度依赖武力是违背大道的，终将迅速衰败。
Q: What is Laozi’s attitude toward war?
A: He opposes ruling through force. War leaves destruction, and even victories must not be flaunted. Reliance on force goes against Dao and quickly leads to decline.
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