《道德经》里“道法自然”这四个字，常被译成“顺其自然”，其实远比这样的翻译复杂。
The four characters 道法自然 from the Dao De Jing are often rendered as "let nature take its course," but they are in fact far more complicated than that translation suggests.
老子所说的“自然”，并不是山川草木，而是事物“本来如此”的那种状态。
The "nature" Laozi speaks of is by no means mountains, rivers, grass and trees, but rather the state of things being just as they originally are.
换句话说，它强调的是：不要用蛮力去扭曲事物本来的节奏。
In other words, what it stresses is this: do not use brute force to twist the original rhythm of things.
这一点在城市规划中体现得很清楚：一条被水泥封死的河，遇到暴雨反而更容易泛滥。
This shows up clearly in city planning: a river sealed in concrete is actually more likely to flood when a downpour comes.
近年来流行的“海绵城市”让雨水重新渗进土壤，某种程度上正是古老智慧的现代版本。
The "sponge cities" fashionable in recent years let rainwater seep back into the soil, which is to some extent a modern version of that ancient wisdom.
当然，把“道法自然”理解成什么都不做，未免过于消极。
Of course, reading 道法自然 as an excuse to do nothing at all is rather too passive.
老子讲的“无为”，指的是不妄为，而不是不作为。
The 无为 Laozi talks about means not acting rashly, not refusing to act at all.
一位种地的朋友告诉我，务农最要紧的本事，是知道什么时候该动手，什么时候该等着。
A friend who farms told me that the most critical skill in working the land is knowing when to get to work and when to simply wait.
在节奏越来越快的生活里，我们不妨偶尔停下来，看看事情本来想往哪个方向生长。
In a life that keeps speeding up, we might as well stop now and then and look at which direction things wanted to grow in the first place.
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Key words 生词
顺其自然shùn qí zìránto let nature take its course; to go with the flow
蛮力mánlìbrute force
扭曲niǔqūto distort; to twist
泛滥fànlànto flood; to overflow; to spread unchecked
无为wúwéinon-action; refraining from forcing things (Daoist term)
消极xiāojípassive; negative; unenthusiastic
Grammar note 语法点
并不是…，而是…
'It is by no means A, but rather B' — 并 before 不是 strengthens the denial, correcting an assumption the reader may hold; 而是 supplies the accurate version. 例：他并不是不想去，而是没有时间。
老子所说的“自然”，并不是山川草木，而是事物“本来如此”的那种状态。 — The "nature" Laozi speaks of is by no means mountains and rivers, but the state of things being just as they originally are.
未免 + 太/过于 + adj.
'That is rather too…' — 未免 softens a criticism, marking a judgment as somewhat excessive. It comments on a situation, never on a request. 例：这样批评一个孩子，未免太严厉了。
把“道法自然”理解成什么都不做，未免过于消极。 — Reading 道法自然 as doing nothing at all is rather too passive.
不妨 + verb
'Might as well; there is no harm in doing…' — a gentle suggestion that the action costs little and may help. 例：如果拿不定主意，不妨先问问专业人士。
我们不妨偶尔停下来，看看事情本来想往哪个方向生长。 — We might as well stop now and then and see which way things wanted to grow.
Check yourself 小测验
1. According to the text, what does Laozi's 自然 actually refer to?
2. Why does the text mention rivers sealed in concrete?
3. How does the writer explain 无为?
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