1. There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it;--for there is nothing (so effectual) for which it can be changed.
2. Every one in the world knows that the soft overcomes the hard, and the weak the strong, but no one is able to carry it out in practice.
3. Therefore a sage 1 has said,
'He who accepts his state's reproach,
Is hailed therefore its altars' lord;
To him who bears men's direful woes 2
They all the name of King accord.'
4. Words that are strictly 3 true seem to be paradoxical.
解释翻译
天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜，以其无以易之。
柔之胜刚，弱之胜强，天下莫不知，而莫能行。
是以圣人云：爱国之垢，是谓社稷主;受国之不祥，是谓天下王。
正言若反。
【译文】
天下没有比水更柔弱的，但攻坚克强却没有什么能胜过它，因为没有什么可以真正改变得了它。柔能胜过刚，弱能胜过强，天下没有人不知道，但又没有人能实行。因此，圣人常说：能承受全国的屈辱，才配作天下的君主;能承担全国的灾难，才配作天下的君王。确切的话语常常让人觉得不以为然!
注释出处
1sage
n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的
参考例句：
I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。
2woes
困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉
参考例句：
Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。
3strictly
adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地
参考例句：
His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。
道德经英文版