第36章 · 原文
现代白话译文
想要收缩它，必先扩张它；想要削弱它，必先增强它；想要废除它，必先兴盛它；想要夺取它，必先给予它。这就叫作微妙而明智的道理。柔弱能战胜刚强。鱼不能离开深水，国家的有效武器不能轻易展示给人看。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
将欲除强梁去暴乱当以此四者．因物之性．令其自戮．不假刑为大．以除将物也．故曰微明也．足其张令之足．而又求其张．则众所歙也．与其张之不足．而改其求张者．愈益而己反危．利器利国之器也．唯因物之性．不假刑以理物．器不可覩．而物各得其所．则国之利器也．示人者任刑也．刑以利国则失矣．鱼脱于渊则必见失矣．利国之器而立刑以示人亦必失也.
河上公注（汉）
将欲歙之者，歙，聚敛也。将欲聚敛之，必先张之也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
函道可以自適，抱道可以自存，其如魚之自遂於淵乎！有倚有名，唯恐不示人，則道滯而天下測其窮。無門無毒，物望我於此而已。不以此應之，則天下其無如我何矣。無如我何，而天下奚往？是故天下死於道，而遭常生天下，用此器也。
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此言名利損生，誡人當知止足也。謂世人祇知名之可貴，故忘身以殉名。殊不知名乃身外之虛聲耳。與身較之，身親而名疏。故曰孰親。貨，利也。謂世人祇知利之可貪，故忘身以殉利。殊不知利乃身之長物耳。與身較之，身在則有餘。故曰孰多。世人不察，每役役於名利之間，貪得而無厭，戕生傷性。與夫貪得而身亡，不若身存而遠害。故曰得與亡孰病。故凡愛之甚者，費必大。藏之多者，亡必厚。如以隋侯之珠，彈千仞之雀，雀未得而珠已失。此愛之甚，而不知所費者大矣。如斂天下之財，以縱鹿臺之欲，天下叛而臺已空。此藏之多，而不知所亡者厚矣。不唯愛者費而藏者亡。抑且身死名滅，國危而不安。斯皆不知止足之過也。故知足則不辱，知止則不殆，即斯可以長久矣。噫，老氏此言，可謂破千古之重昏，啟膏肓之妙藥，昭然如揭日月於中天也。而人不察乎此，惜哉。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
将欲拾之，必古张之。将欲弱之，必古强之。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
If you wish to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you wish to weaken something, you must first strengthen it. If you wish to abolish something, you must first establish it. If you wish to seize something, you must first give it. This is called subtle wisdom. The soft overcomes the hard, the weak overcomes the strong. Fish should not leave the deep pool. The sharp weapons of the state should not be displayed to others.
If you wish to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you wish to weaken something, you must first strengthen it. If you wish to abolish something, you must first establish it. If you wish to seize something, you must first give it. This is called subtle wisdom. The soft overcomes the hard, the weak overcomes the strong. Fish should not leave the deep pool. The sharp weapons of the state should not be displayed to others.
If you wish to shrink it, you must expand it. If you wish to weaken it, you must strengthen it. If you wish to abolish it, you must establish it. If you wish to seize it, you must give it. This is called subtle wisdom. The soft overcomes the hard, the weak overcomes the strong. Fish should not leave the deep pool. The sharp weapons of the state should not be shown to others.