Extensive Interpretation of Tao Te Ching (78)
道德經演義（七十八）
There is
nothing weaker than water, but none is superior to it in overcoming the hard,
for which there is no substitute.
天下莫柔弱於水，而攻堅強者莫之能勝，以其無以易之。
That weakness overcomes
strength, and gentleness overcomes rigidity.
弱之勝強，柔之勝剛，
There is no
one does not know; however, no one can put into practice.
天下莫不知，莫能行。
Therefore the Sage says; “Who
receives unto himself the calumny of the world, is the preserver of the state.
是以聖人云：受國之垢，是謂社稷主。
Who bears himself the sins of
the world, is the king of the world.”
受國不祥，是羈天下王，
True words seem paradoxical
正言若反。
Xianchi’s Interpretation of Tao Te Ching (78) a。78
咸池評述道德經演義（七十八）a。78
1 There is some
factors which can explain why water can penetrate hard stone. Above all, water
is a kind of solvent, which can solve hard stone. Second factor is large
proportion of water. Third factor is duration. Only continuous dropping might
possibly penetrate stone.
水能滴穿透堅硬的岩石，其中有幾個重要的因素。首先，因為水是一種極佳的溶劑，它能溶解堅硬的岩石。另外是量的因素。再來就是持久性。滴水穿石是需要極長時間，持續不斷地往下滴才有可能。
2 With such acknowledgement, we should
not mistake the idea of Laotse: That weakness
overcomes strength, and gentleness overcomes rigidity. The reasons of
penetrating stone are solvency, large proportion of ubiquity and duration. The
“weakness” and “gentleness” can’t accomplish the task without penetration,
large proportion and long time.
有了這樣的認識之後，我們對於老子說的 “弱之勝強，柔之勝剛” 就不應抱有錯誤的遐想。因為，其實溶解力、大量的普遍性存在，以及持久性，才是
“弱之勝強，柔之勝剛” 的真實原因。可見“柔” 、“弱”如果不具滲透力、不具數目眾多的量、不具時間也是難以完成任務的。
3 Penetration
exerts itself to get into tiny clefts. Large proportion is the only way for
creature to survive and to propagate.
滲透力的得以發揮，就在其體積是極端的微小，無論什麼樣的小縫、空間都能伸進去，而大量，則更是生物界所賴以存活、延續子孫的唯一途徑。
4 In an
ejaculation of man, sperm contains three hundred fifty million spermatozoa.
Less than one million can enter womb; about one thousand can enter oviduct;
only one hundred come close to ovum. In normal condition, only one can
inseminate oviduct.
人類男性的每一次射精，其中精液所含的精子約有３億５千個，能夠順利進入子宮內的精子則不足１００萬，到達輸卵管的大約只有１０００個左右，而有機會接近卵子的精子就只剩下1００個而已，最後在正常情況下能獲得授精機會的精子卻只有一個。
5 Additionally,
he must be diligent and make continuous try and effort. With accumulation and
time, opportunity appears.
另外就是他必須要特別勤快，能不斷的嚐試、努力、從中累積成果，等到時間長了，機會也就會出現了。
6 The folk saying
in
閩南語裡有一句諺語，意思是戲台邊站久了，終有一天會變成主角。從學校畢業３０多年，一直堅守崗位的同學，其中大部分都擁有不錯的職位。相反的，那些耐不住低位、抵不住辛勞而中途離職的人，他們就完全沒有類似的機會了。
7 In stock
investment plan, time is very important. Focusing on a good and reliable
company, it doesn’t matter at what the price that you buy in. The key point is
that once you buy it, you should hold it. For a long time, then it must bring
you profit.
在股票投資計劃裡，"時間" 也是極為重要的一環。一旦找到了好公司後，買在什麼樣的價位並不是那麼的重要; 重要的是，買了之後就千萬別賣出去，一直抱著，只要時間長了就一定能賺錢。
8 Holding stock
for a long term is the necessary condition for gaining in stock market, which
is a common sense. Nevertheless, as Laotse say,
everyone in the world knows it but no one is able to carry it out in practice.
How sad it is.
長期持有是股票投資致勝的要件，這也是眾所周知的常識。然而正如老子說的，它卻是天下莫不知，莫能行。這就是我們人的悲哀了，奈何!
9 If we hope to get some advice by
study the characters of water, we should notice the characters of its solvent,
penetrative, universal, serving, durative, also its characters of omnipresent
and necessary. A man can make a living in society, or even becomes a dominator.
He must have a certain talent and can serve other so that group and other must
depend on him.
我們如果想從水的特性中來探索人在社會中致勝的方法，我們除了該注意水的溶解性、滲透性、普遍性、持久性等之外，我們還要注意其服務性、及其必要性等。一個人在社會上能立足，甚至於成為一方霸主，首先，他本身就必須具備一定的才能，可以為他人提供服務，進而成為群體或他人所必須仰賴的依靠。