Tao Te Ching Ch.69: Daring to Be the Guest (哀者胜矣)

用yòng兵bīng有yǒu言yán：“吾bù不gǎn敢wéi为wéi主，，而wèi为wéi客；；不gǎn敢jìn进cùn寸，，而tuì退chǐ尺。

1A 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).

”是shì谓wèi行xíng无wú行xíng，攘rǎng无wú臂bì；扔rēng无wú敌dí；执zhí无wú兵bīng。

2I 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.

祸huò莫mò大dà于yú轻qīng敌dí，轻qīng敌dí几jǐ丧sàng吾wú宝bǎo。

3There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war.

4To do that is near losing (the gentleness) which is so precious.

故gù抗kàng兵bīng相xiāng若ruò，哀āi者zhě胜shèng矣yǐ。

5Thus it is that when opposing weapons are (actually) crossed, he who deplores (the situation) conquers.