【原文】夫争强之国，必先争谋，争刑，争权。令人主一喜一怒者，谋也；令国一轻一重者，刑也；令兵一进一退者，权也。故精于谋，则人主之愿可得，而令可行也；精干刑，则大国之地可夺，强国之兵可圉也；精于权，则天下之兵可齐，诸侯之君可朝也。《霸言》

【汉解】凡是争强的国家，必先竞争谋略，竞争形势，竟争权力。使人君有喜有怒，在谋略；使国家有轻有重，在形势；使军队有进有退，在权力。所以，精于谋略则人君的愿望可以实现，而号令可以推行；精于形势则大国土地可以夺取，而强国之兵可以包围；精于权力则天下的兵力可剪除，诸侯国的君主可以召见了。

【英译】Now, states that struggle to be stronger than others must first struggle in terms of stratagems, conditions and political power. Stratagems are what cause a ruler to be liked one moment and hated another. Conditions are what cause him to be taken lightly one moment and seriously another. Political power is what causes his armed forces to advance one moment and retreat another. Therefore, if he pays full attention to stratagems, his desires may be realized and his orders carried out. If he pays full attention to conditions, the territory of large countries may be seized and the armed forces of strong states contained.