第78章 · 原文
现代白话译文
天下没有什么比水更柔弱的，但攻坚克强却没有什么能胜过它，因为没有什么能改变它。弱胜过强，柔胜过刚，天下没有人不知道，但没有人能实行。所以圣人说：承担国家的屈辱，这就叫作国家的君主；承担国家的灾祸，这就叫作天下的君王。正面的话好像反话一样。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
以用也．其谓水也．言用水之柔弱无物可以易之也.
河上公注（汉）
天下莫柔弱于水者，水至柔也。而攻坚强者，水能攻坚强也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
無「攻」之力，有「攻」之心，則心鼓其力。無「攻」之心，有「攻」之力，則力蕩其心。心力交足以「攻」，則各乘其權，身以內各挾其戈矛以屢變；而欲以「攻」天下，能不瓦解者，未之有矣。雖然，莫心為甚。夫水者，豈欲以敵堅彊面為攻者哉？受天下之「垢」也，終古而無「易」心，而力從之。何也？水之無力，均其無心；水之無心，均其無力也。故「弱其志」者無「易」志，「虛其心」者無「易」心，行乎其所不得已，而不知堅彊之與否，則險夷無易慮，無他，寓心於汗漫而內不自構也。寓心於汗漫，無所畏矣。內不自構，和之至矣。和於中，無畏於外，天下其孰能禦之！
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此言天道之妙，以明聖人法天以制用也。弓之為物，本弣高而有餘，弰下而不足，乃弛而不用也。及張而用之，則抑高舉下，損弣有餘之力，以補弰之不足。上下均停，然後巧於中的。否則由基逢蒙，無所施其巧矣。天之道亦猶是也。以其但施而不受，皆損一氣之有餘，以補萬物之不足，均調適可，故各遂其生。人道但受而不施，故人主以天下奉一己。皆損百姓之不足，以補一人之有餘，裒寡益多，故民不堪其命。誰能損有餘以奉天下哉。唯有道者，達性分之至足，一身之外皆餘物也。故堯舜有天下而不與，即以所養而養民，乃能以有餘奉不足也。是以聖人與道為一，與天為徒。故法天制用，雖為而不恃其能，雖成而不居其功，此損之至也。損之至，故天下樂推而不厭。雖不欲見賢，不可得也。其不欲見賢耶一句，謂我心本不欲見賢，而人自以我為賢矣。此益也，由損而至。故唯天為大，唯堯則之，此之謂也。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜也，以其无以易之也。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water. Yet nothing attacks the hard and strong better. Nothing can change it. The weak overcome the strong, the soft overcome the hard. This is known by all but not practiced. Therefore the sage says: Receive the state's filth - this is the lord of the state. Receive the state's bad omens - this is the king of the world. True words seem contrary.
Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water. Yet nothing attacks the hard and strong better. Nothing can change it. The weak overcome the strong, the soft overcome the hard. This is known by all but not practiced. Therefore the sage says: Receive the state's filth - this is the lord of the state. Receive the state's bad omens - this is the king of the world. True words seem contrary.
Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water. Yet nothing attacks the hard and strong better. Nothing can change it. The weak overcome the strong, the soft overcome the hard. This is known by all but not practiced. Therefore the sage says: Receive the state's filth - this is the lord of the state. Receive the state's bad omens - this is the king of the world. True words seem contrary.