Laozi
用兵有言：吾不敢為主，而為客； 不敢進寸，而退尺。 是謂行無行；攘無臂；扔無敵；執無兵。 禍莫大於輕敵，輕敵幾喪吾寶。 故抗兵相加，哀者勝矣。
James Legge
A master of the art of war has said, ‘I do not dare to be the host (to commence the war); I prefer to be the guest (to act on the defensive). I do not dare to advance an inch; I prefer to retire a foot.’ This is called marshalling the ranks where there are no ranks; baring the arms (to fight) where there are no arms to bare; grasping the weapon where there is no weapon to grasp; advancing against the enemy where there is no enemy.
There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war. To do that is near losing (the gentleness) which is so precious. Thus it is that when opposing weapons are (actually) crossed, he who deplores (the situation) conquers.
Victor H. Mair
The strategists have a saying: “I dare not be host, but would rather be guest; I advance not an inch, but instead retreat a foot.” This is called Marching without ranks, Bearing nonexistent arms, Flourishing nonexistent weapons, Driving back nonexistent enemies. There is no greater misfortune than not having a worthy foe; Once I believe there are no worthy foes, I have well-nigh forfeited my treasures. Therefore, When opposing forces are evenly matched, The one who is saddened will be victorious.
C. Spurgeon Medhurst
Military commanders have a saying [^1]—
I dare not act as host but only as a guest; [^2] rather than advance an inch I would retire a foot. [^3]
This is marching without moving; bearing the invisible arm; regarding the enemy as if he were not; grasping the sword that is not. [^4]
There is no calamity greater than making light of the enemy; [^5] to make light of the enemy is to endanger my retention of the treasures. [^6] Hence once the opposing forces have met it is the pitiful who conquer. [^7]
“Jesus, therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him a king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone,” and was thereby endowed with a more powerful scepter than if he had accepted a visible crown. Refusing to play the part of a host or master, he gained the kingdom and became its lord.
Missionaries, and all who disturb the natural development of national moral culture, tearing down and destroying where they should only build and conserve, are acting as hosts in lands where they are uninvited guests. The chapter is a warning that it is only those who feel the pity of physical and moral FORCE; who understand the DANGER that is inseparable from all attempts to present truth to the hostile, who ultimately win in the contest.
[^1] The text does not say, as nearly every translator has made it say, “A certain commander said so and so,” but “The general policy of all great generals is thus and thus.”
[^2] i.e. I do not dare to act on my own initiative; before committing myself I wait to discover the intentions of the enemy. The “enemy” is in the text spoken of as the “host.”
[^3] The idea is that the holder of the Tao should always be more ready to yield than to give battle.
[^4] Although inert he is ever on the alert, and ready for every emergency. Cf. I Pet. v. 8.
[^5] A warning against allowing active passivity becoming careless indifference. Cf. Eph. vi. 13-18.
[^6] vid. chap. 67. A determination to destroy the enemy regardless of the necessity for the act is contrary to compassion; it reveals an absence of self-restraint.
[^7] Angry passions and impatient desires to join the battle are naturally aroused when the opposing forces are lying face to face, but here, as always, it is those who feel the pity of it all, but who are yet prepared for every eventuality, who win the day; their very sorrow that a battle is unavoidable, prevents them being hurried by the impetuosity of passion into some foolish and fatal move.
There is a story told of Admiral Dewey which aptly illustrates the military spirit which Lao-tzu is commending. The American ships were making magnificent target practice in Manilla Bay, and the Spanish fleet was sinking. The Americans began to cheer. “Don’t shout, boys,” said Dewey. “The poor devils are dying.”
Ursula K. Le Guin
The expert in warfare says: Rather than dare make the attack I’d take the attack; rather than dare advance an inch I’d retreat a foot.
It’s called marching without marching, rolling up your sleeves without flexing your muscles, being armed without weapons, giving the attacker no opponent. Nothing’s worse than attacking what yields. To attack what yields is to throw away the prize.
So, when matched armies meet, the one who comes to grief is the true victor.
Note UKLG: A piece of sound tactical advice (practiced by the martial arts, such as Aikido, and by underground resistance and guerilla forces), which leads to a profound moral warning. The prize thrown away by the aggressor is compassion. The yielder, the griever, the mourner, keeps that prize. The game is loser takes all.