Tao Te Ching · Ch. 30

以道佐人主者,不以兵強天下。其事好還。師之所處,荊棘生焉。大軍之後,必有凶年。善有果而已,不敢以取強。果而勿矜,果而勿伐,果而勿驕。果而不得已,果而勿強。物壯則老,是謂不道,不道早已。

Yǐ dào zuǒ rén zhǔ zhě, bù yǐ bīng qiáng tiān xià. Qí shì hào huán. Shī zhī suǒ chǔ, jīng jí shēng yān. Dà jūn zhī hòu, bì yǒu xiōng nián. Shàn yǒu guǒ ér yǐ, bù gǎn yǐ qǔ qiáng. Guǒ ér wù jīn, guǒ ér wù fá, guǒ ér wù jiāo. Guǒ ér bù dé yǐ, guǒ ér wù qiáng. Wù zhuàng zé lǎo, shì wèi bù dào, bù dào zǎo yǐ.

Whoever assists a ruler in accordance with the Tao will not use military force to dominate the world — for such things always rebound. Where armies have camped, thorns and brambles grow. After great wars, years of famine surely follow. A good commander achieves results and stops; he does not dare to press on for dominance. Achieve results, but do not boast; achieve results, but do not brag; achieve results, but do not be proud. Achieve results because there was no choice, and do not push on to dominate. When things reach their peak strength, they begin to decay — this is called going against the Tao. What goes against the Tao comes to an early end.

— Tao Te Ching 30

Source: Wang Bi edition (Chinese) + Hanyu Pinyin transliteration