以道佐人主者，不以兵強天下。
其事好還。
師之所處，荊棘生焉。
大軍之後，必有凶年。
善有果而已，不敢以取強。
果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿驕。
果而不得已，果而勿強。
物壯則老，是謂不道，不道早已。
He who by Tao purposes to help the ruler of men
Will oppose all conquest by force of arms.
For such things are wont to rebound.
Where armies are, thorns and brambles grow.
The raising of a great host
Is followed by a year of dearth.
Therefore a good general effects his purpose and stops.
He dares not rely upon the strength of arms;
Effects his purpose and does not glory in it;
Effects his purpose and does not boast of it;
Effects his purpose and does not take pride in it;
Effects his purpose as a regrettable necessity;
Effects his purpose but does not love violence.
(For) things age after reaching their prime.
That (violence) would be against the Tao.
And he who is against the Tao perishes young.
(Translation by Lin Yutang )
War is the tragedy of mankind. Lao Tzu opposed the war, and he felt that war should be ended when a goal is achieved.
Today, although it is the era of democracy, we are still facing frequent battles, it is up to the wisdom of humankind to avoid disputes and wars. Reading this text, we see the tragic scenes of post-war that Lao Tzu painted for us. We saw the desolated land filled with thorns, thistle, and brambles. Also, the famine came after that. On top of that, we can even see innocent people were killed, and families have broken, a tragic scene just beyond description.
He warned that this action would cause the consequence of the retribution and if you use force instead of reason to conquer the others will not last long.
However, the great general who follows the Tao will stop when he achieves his result. He will not glorify, boast, and be proud of himself. For he knows this is a natural way and only through this it will last and will not come to an early end.
