談及現實政治，極端激烈當屬用兵之事。對「兵」及相關議題，《老子》和《莊子》有所思，然而他們的視角和理想與眾不同。《老子》懷著慈哀，排斥戰爭而不拒戰；強調柔弱，但不總是採取被動姿態。《莊子》反對兵戰，卻也反對「為義偃兵」，且更著意於顛覆常情俗理的成心，認為那才是形成糾紛與兵亂的禍源。老莊皆反對兵戰，它們的兵論看似相近，實則不一，為道家兵思想開出雙重路線，形成兩種不同的思維類型。

When it comes to real-world politics, the most intense thing is military. Laozi and Zhuangzi have thought about issues such as “bing” and war, but their perspective and ideal worldview are different from common sense. Laozi has compassion, rejecting war but not resisting it. Laozi emphasized “softness”, but it does not always take a passive attitude. Zhuangzi was against war, but it was also against stopping war for the sake of morality. Zhuangzi puts more emphasis on interfering the intention which causes “bing” and war and disputes. Laozi and Zhuangzi are both opposed to “bing” and war, and their theory develops two lines for Taoist military thought. They constitute two types of philosophy.