大邦者下流，天下之牝，天下之交也。牝常以静胜牡，以静為下。故大邦以下小邦，则取小邦；小邦以下大邦，则取大邦。故或下以取，或下而取。大邦不过欲兼畜人，小邦不过欲入事人。夫两者各得所欲，大者宜為下。

Te Ching Chapter Sixty-one

A great nation rules by placing itself in a lowly position like the rivers that flow into the low regions of ocean.

Hence, people will naturally be faithful to their country.

Mother nature always stays calm and quiet to overcome the unrest.

It takes the lowly position to be in peace.

Thus, if a great nation can lower itself to deal with a smaller nation,

Then it shall win the heart of the people.

And the smaller nation will willingly merge with the great nation.

And if the smaller nation can lower itself to deal with the great nation,

Then it shall win the trust and be accommodated as a part of the great nation.

Therefore, be it to take a lowly position to win over or to take a lowly position to be accommodated;

The great nation only wishes to unite and shelter all the people,

While the small nation only wishes to be a part of the nation to serve it.

Now that both are granted with what they wish for,

It is only natural for the “Great” to put itself in a lowly position.