he who in (tao's) wars has skill

assumes no martial port;

he who fights with most good will

to rage makes no resort.

he who vanquishes yet still

keeps from his foes apart;

he whose hests men most fulfil

yet humbly plies his art.

thus we say, 'he ne'er contends,

and therein is his might.'

thus we say, 'men's wills he bends,

that they with him unite.'

thus we say, 'like heaven's his ends,

no sage of old more bright.'

善为士者不武，

善战者不怒，

善胜敌者不兴，

善用人者为之下。

是谓不争之德，是谓用人之力。

是谓配天古之极。

【译文】

善于当士的人不勇之于武，善于投身战斗的人不泄愤激怒，善于胜敌的人不趾高气扬、骄横拔扈，善于驱动别人的人对他表示谦下。这就叫做有了不争的德，有了善于驱动别人的能耐。这就叫做符合于道。