A great nation lives under the flow
In the world it mixes
The world its female

The female's nature uses stillness to best the male
Use stillness and act the lowly part

So if a great nation submits to a lesser
The lesser submits to the greater

If a lesser nation submits to a greater
The lesser may take from the greater

Sometimes one is low to take
Sometimes low by being taken

A great nation does not lose sight of domesticating Man
A lesser nation does not lose sight of serving Man

If the two nations both gain what they seek
The greater is right to act so lowly

大國者下流
天下之交
天下之牝

牝常以靜勝牡
以靜為下

故大國以下小國
則取小國

小國以下大國
則取大國

故或下以取
或下而取

大國不過欲兼畜人
小國不過欲入事人

夫兩者各得其所欲
大者宜為下