剛與柔兩種手段互相調(diào)劑、配合。“剛”與“柔”是指人和事物的兩種相反的屬性。就執(zhí)政理事而言，“剛”指強硬、嚴(yán)厲，“柔”指溫柔、寬宥，“剛?cè)嵯酀毕喈?dāng)于“恩威并施”。“剛?cè)帷北徽J(rèn)為是“陰陽”的具體表現(xiàn)。“剛”與“柔”之間的對立與調(diào)和是促成事物運動變化的根本原因。具體到政策、法令的制定與實施及社會或企業(yè)的管理，剛與柔需保持某種均衡狀態(tài)。

Gang (剛) and rou (柔) are two mutually complementary measures. They refer to two opposite properties or qualities that objects and human beings possess. In the realm of governance, gang means being tough and stern, while rou means being soft and lenient, and the term means to combine tough management with gentle care. Gang and rou are considered to be a concrete manifestation of yin and yang. Their mutual opposition and accommodation are the causes of change. When formulating and implementing policies and decrees or managing a society or an enterprise, there must be a certain balance between gang and rou.

引例 Citations：

◎孔子云：“禮以行之，孫（xùn）以出之。”外柔內(nèi)剛、剛?cè)嵯酀幌鄤僬?，萬事之所以成也。（鄭善夫《答道夫》）

孔子說：“按禮的要求實踐，用謙遜的言辭說出。”外柔內(nèi)剛、剛?cè)嵯酀皇且环綁哼^另一方，萬事就能獲得成功。

Confucius said: "One must perform righteousness according to the rules of propriety and speak in humility." One should be soft and gentle without, while tough and firm within, and should combine toughness with softness, without trying to overpower the other side. This is the way to achieve success in doing everything. (Zheng Shanfu: Letter in Reply to Daofu)

◎凡為將者，當(dāng)以剛?cè)嵯酀豢赏绞哑溆?。（羅貫中《三國演義》第七十一回）

凡擔(dān)任大將的人，都應(yīng)該用剛?cè)嵯酀豢芍皇菓{著自己的勇猛行事。

All generals must combine toughness with softness, and should not act with personal prowess only. (Luo Guanzhong: Romance of the Three Kingdoms)

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供稿：北京外國語大學(xué) 外語教學(xué)與研究出版社

責(zé)任編輯：錢耐安