If the people are victorious against the government, the nation will be weak; if the government is victorious against the people, the military will have strength. [thus they] will have the means by which they may fight, and thus ascend to supremacy.
![If the people are victorious against the government, the nation will be weak; if the government is victorious against the people, the military will have strength. [thus they] will have the means by which they may fight,](http://cdn.quoteddaily.com/images/shang-yang/if-the-people-are-victorious-against-the-government-the-nation-will-be-weak-if-the-government-is-victorious-against-the.jpg)
If the people are victorious against the government, the nation will be weak; if the government is victorious against the people, the military will have strength. [thus they] will have the means by which they may fight, and thus ascend to supremacy.