Tao Te Ching Chapter 30
paulpengThe Original Chinese Text
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,不敢以取强。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。
He who would assist a lord of men in harmony with the Dao will not assert his mastery in the kingdom by force of arms. Such a course is sure to meet with its proper return.
Wherever a host is stationed, briars and thorns spring up. In the sequence of great armies there are sure to be bad years.
A skillful (commander) strikes a decisive blow, and stops. He does not dare (by continuing his operations) to assert and complete his mastery. He will strike the blow, but will be on his guard against being vain or boastful or arrogant in consequence of it. He strikes it as a matter of necessity; he strikes it, but not from a wish for mastery.
When things have attained their strong maturity they become old. This may be said to be not in accordance with the Dao: — and what is not in accordance with it soon comes to an end.
【译文】用道辅佐君主的人,不依靠兵力来增强武力、扩大疆域于天下。用兵这件事很容易得到还报。军队驻扎的地方，荆棘就会在那里生长，大的战役过后，一定会产生灾年。善于用兵的人取得了预定战果就停止用兵了,不会借此来增强武力、扩张疆域。取得战果而不自高自大，取得战果却不自我夸耀，取得战果却不骄傲自满。取得战果是不得已而为之,取得战果不是为了增强武力、扩大疆域。万物过于强健就会衰朽，这叫做不顺应自然之道,不顺应自然之道就会停止。
Translation
Those who use the Way to assist their sovereign do not rely on military force to enhance power or expand territory across the world. The act of using troops is easily repaid with disaster. Where the army settles, thorns will grow there; after major battles, disasters are bound to follow. Those skilled in warfare stop when they have achieved their intended results, without using it to strengthen power or expand territory. They achieve victories without arrogance, boastfulness, or complacency. Victory is a necessary evil, and it is not done for the purpose of enhancing power or expanding territory. If all things become too strong, they will decay, which is called not conforming to the natural way. Not conforming to the natural way leads to cessation.
