71,地大国富,人众兵强

管子语录 汉英双解

【原文】地大国富,人众兵强,此霸王之本也,然而与危亡为邻矣。天道之数,人心之变。天道之数,至则反,盛则衰。人心之变,有余则骄,骄则缓怠。《重令》

【汉解】地大国富,人众兵强,这自然是称霸、称王的根本。然而,至此也就与危亡接近了。天道的规律和人心的变化就是这样的:就天道的规律说,事物发展到尽头则走向反面,发展到极盛则走向衰落;就人心的变化说,富有了,则产生骄傲,骄傲则松懈怠惰。

【英译】Extensive territory, a wealthy state, a large population, and powerful armed forces, these are the basis for becoming a lord protector or a king. However, they will also bring the prince close to danger and destruction. The way of Heaven has its course; the minds of men are subject to change. It is the course of Heaven’s way to reach the extreme and then revert, to reach the full and then decline. The change in men’s minds is to become arrogant when achieving too much, when there is arrogance, there is negligence.