敬慎-Chapter Five (RESPECTFULLY CAUTIOUS) 卷四十二 鹽鐵論

敬慎-Chapter Five
 (RESPECTFULLY CAUTIOUS)
卷四十二  鹽鐵論

地廣而不德者國危, 兵強而凌敵者身亡

虎兕(1) 相搏, 而螻蟻得志;

兩敵相機,而匹夫乘閑。

是以聖王見利慮害,見遠存近。

〔註釋〕(1) 兕 :  音  si / ㄙˋ 。 古代獸名。

                一說兕就是雌犀。

〔白話〕土地廣闊而不實行德政,國家就會有危機

                兵力強大而侵犯他國,自身就會滅亡。

                猛虎和兕相互搏鬥,螻蛄和螞蟻就會得志;

                兩個對手相互抗爭,平庸之輩就會有機可乘

                因此,聖明的君主,看到有利的一面,

                還會考慮有害的一面; 既會考慮未來,

                也會注意眼前的形勢。

                

A  vast territory without a good  government 

will place the country in danger. 

A powerful army that invades other countries 

will meet  with its demise.

When  ferocious tigers fight among themselves,

mole crickets and ants will emerge 

as the eventual winners.

So an unaccomplished third party would triumph 

when two competitive parties are involved in bitter

rivalries. Hence a brilliant ruler would observe the

positive side of any action and weigh the risks

and dangers involved.

He will be well prepared for the future besides 

being alert of the present  situation.

Scroll 42,  Yan Tie Lun

Amitabha ~