Chapter 30 Chapter Thirty

Those who assist the ruler with the Dao cannot superstitiously force (conquer) the world by force.When a king or a vassal uses force to coerce the world, this kind of event must be repaid, which is called retribution, and it will never end. Wherever the troops fought, the countryside was barren, the fields were full of thorns, and the people were devastated.After a great war, there must be a year of severe famine and disaster. People or groups who are good at fighting can only achieve certain (specific) goals, and they must never rely on military strength to show off their reputation. Overlord, show off your might.

When a certain goal is achieved by using force, there is no need to put on airs, and there is no airs to put on.There is no need to boast, and nothing to boast about.There is no need to be flattered, and there is nothing to be smug about.The use of force is a choice of last resort, not for the purpose of showing off one's might, and one cannot show one's might because of it. If a person is too strong prematurely, he will quickly age, and if he is too strong and rigid, he will deviate from the humility, tolerance and change of the Dao, and it should end quickly-it will be over soon.

In this chapter, Lao Tzu expresses his views of being anti-war and war-weary, or at least prudent in war.He is bookish, and has the meaning of scholarly debate.His exposition of "After the army, there must be a bad year" has become a well-known saying in our country.This is a talk of experience, a talk of compassion for life and the people, and a talk of benevolence, although Lao Tzu is not very interested in the word "benevolence". Of course, Lao Tzu does not have a road map and actual operating procedures for the actual elimination of war.But he suggested not to show off your power, not to expand because of victory, not to be domineering because of victory, you must know that war is a last resort, and it is a pity. To and what should be done.Otherwise, it can only be prosperity and decline, victory and defeat, prosperity and death, strong and collapse.

The countless rise and fall of great powers illustrate this point. For a realist, strength, including force, is important, but strength alone is not enough.If we go against the trend of history, go against the laws of history, and use brute force against the interests of the people, the result will only be the punishment of the great way.Only by paying more attention to Tao, to principles, morality, roads, routes, and methods, and to respecting the divine nature of the world that cannot be controlled by selfishness and cannot be intentional, can we not go against the law and bring about our own destruction.

Lao Tzu's attitude towards the use of troops and force means is also very connotative. He is not absolutely anti-war, and he is not a pacifist.Some of his subsequent expositions ("If you want to take what you want, you must first give it", etc.) are regarded as the art of war. I'm afraid it's a historical joke, a satire on Lao Tzu who is too clever. In fact, Lao Tzu has a very reserved, very cautious and very unavoidable attitude towards the use of troops.His non-war perspective has been shown from time to time.However, everything is opposite to each other, and those who are least willing to use soldiers have the ingenuity of military use and the art of war;This is God's satirical reward for geniuses and masters, it is the funny history, and it is the extreme wisdom and fun of history.This is also God's comfort to mediocre and confused people: how can mediocre and confused people understand and obey Lao Tzu's mind and wisdom?How could they admit their own ignorance, morality and morality?They must pull Lao Tzu to the ground, to the same height as mediocre and foolish people, understand and interpret Lao Tzu from the worst, most vulgar and most selfish aspects, interpret Lao Tzu as a conspirator, explain him as too smart and too cunning With the inner fear?? In this way, the misread mediocrity will be much more comfortable.

There is another statement worthy of deliberation: if you don’t dare to take advantage of it, don’t try to be strong. This is a point of view repeatedly stated by Lao Tzu, and it is a piece of advice from Lao Tzu to the world.This is contrary to the spirit of advocating competition and advocating never-ending competition.The Olympic slogan is higher, faster and stronger, and Lao Tzu's slogan is not to be strong, but not to be strong. How do you think about these sayings? It can only be analyzed in detail. Instead of provoking the deadly struggle between words like teasing crickets, it is better to experience each other.

pertinence and rationality.You can't send "Lao Tzu" to the Olympics as study or promotional material, and you don't have to put up taller, faster and stronger slogans at philosophy seminars. Some must be contested, such as football matches.Some are better not to fight, such as being promoted to a noble.Whether to fight or not to fight, there is a limit.Even in track and field competitions, if you compete too much, you will be prone to malfunction and affect your performance.And a person's indisputableness has reached the level of premature aging and lifelessness, no one will cheer for you, and you can't justify yourself.

Lao Tzu believes that when things are strong, they will grow old, so guard against being strong.This is too simple and superficial, and does not match Lao Tzu's high IQ.Being strong is not the cause of old age, excessive overdrawing because of being strong, that is, being strong and arrogant, being strong and extravagant, being strong and promiscuous, and being strong and corrupt will promote the process of aging until death.It is arrogance, extravagance, lust, and corruption that need to be guarded against, not strength. In fact, whether it is each of us or our group, we are still far from being strong.

The inevitability of aging is the result of time acting on life, not all the result of being strong.Strong and evil, called evil strong, worthy of vigilance.But I forgot that he has always been weak, and has always been far from being strong. He will still grow old, and he is more likely to die young.Things are strong and old, after all, they were strong once.Weak and old, immature and old, without accomplishing anything, without saying a word, without even taking a breath, to be old and perish, wouldn't it be painful!