30
HE who knows how to guide a ruler in the path
of Tao
Does
not try to override the world with force of arms.
It is in the nature
of a military weapon to turn against its
wielder.
Wherever armies are stationed; thorny bushes grow.
After a great
war, bad years invariably follow.
What you want is to protect efficiently your own state,
But not to
aim at self-aggrandisement.
After you have attained your purpose,
You must not parade your
success,
You must not boast of your ability,
You must not feel
proud,
You must rather regret that you had not been able
to
prevent the war.
You must never think of conquering others
by force.
For to be over-developed is to hasten decay,
And this is against
Tao,
And what is against Tao will soon cease to be.
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