Chapter 10

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第十章: 子路問強

子路問強。子曰：「南方之強與，北方之強與，抑而強與？寞柔以教，不報無道，南方之強也。君子居之。衽金革，死而不厭，北方之強也。而強者居之。故君子和而不流；強哉矯。中立而不倚；強哉矯。國有道，不變塞焉；強哉矯。國無道，至死不變；強哉矯。」

Tzu-lu asked about strength. Confucius said: "Do you mean the strength of the South or the strength of the North? Well, to be broadminded, gentle in teaching, and not rushing to punish wrong-doing is the strength of the South. To lie under arms and meet death without regret is the strength of the North. Therefore,

A person of virtue is friendly and a person of principle. That is strength.

A person of virtue stands in the center without leaning to either side. That is strength.

When the Way is manifest in the land, he is changeless in his support of it. That is strength.

When the Way is not manifest in the land, he will not yield, even until death. That is strength.