He who aids a master of people, does not strong-arm all that is under

儉武 · Jiǎn Wǔ

Classical 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。

Translation & Meaning

He who aids a master of people, does not strong-arm all that is under heaven with armed force, (because) the thing will likely return. Where the troops pass by, thorns grow. After a large battle, a year of mayhem follows. Content with results then withdraw, dare not to seize power.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 佐 (zuǒ): classical character (zuǒ)
  • 人 (rén): person / human
  • 主 (zhǔ): classical character (zhǔ)
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 兵 (bīng): classical character (bīng)
  • 强 (qiáng): strengthen / firm / robust
  • 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
  • 事 (shì): affairs / deeds
  • 好 (hǎo): classical character (hǎo)
  • 还 (hái): classical character (hái)
  • 师 (shī): classical character (shī)
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 所 (suǒ): place / frontier / that which
  • 处 (chù): stays / dwells / position
  • 荆 (jīng): classical character (jīng)
  • 棘 (jí): classical character (jí)
  • 生 (shēng): give birth to / arise
  • 焉 (yān): classical character (yān)
  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 军 (jūn): classical character (jūn)
  • 后 (hòu): after / behind
  • 必 (bì): classical character (bì)
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 凶 (xiōng): classical character (xiōng)
  • 年 (nián): classical character (nián)
  • 善 (shàn): goodness / skillful / kind
  • 果 (guǒ): classical character (guǒ)
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 已 (yǐ): arises / already / cessation
  • 敢 (gǎn): dare / venture forward
  • 取 (qǔ): classical character (qǔ)
  • 勿 (wù): classical character (wù)
  • 矜 (jīn): classical character (jīn)
  • 伐 (fá): classical character (fá)
  • 骄 (jiāo): classical character (jiāo)
  • 得 (dé): obtain / acquire / gain
  • 物 (wù): things / phenomena / forms
  • 壮 (zhuàng): classical character (zhuàng)
  • 则 (zé): classical character (zé)
  • 老 (lǎo): classical character (lǎo)
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 谓 (wèi): called / named / designated
  • 早 (zǎo): classical character (zǎo)