8. Like Water｜Tao Te Ching

上（shàng）善（shàn）若（ruò）水（shuǐ）。（）

The highest goodness is like water.

Water gives the following lines a concrete image for goodness: it nourishes, takes the low place, and does not contend.

水（shuǐ）善（shàn）利（lì）万（wàn）物（wù）而（ér）不（bù）争（zhēng），（）处（chù）众（zhòng）人（rén）之（zhī）所（suǒ）恶（è），（）故（gù）几（jǐ）于（yú）道（dào）。（）

Water benefits all things well and does not compete. It stays in places that people dislike, and so it comes close to the Way.

Water is useful without claiming credit and naturally seeks the low ground. It resembles the Way in how it acts, though the text does not simply equate the two.

居（jū）善（shàn）地（dì），（）心（xīn）善（shàn）渊（yuān），（）与（yǔ）善（shàn）仁（rén），（）言（yán）善（shàn）信（xìn），（）正（zhèng）善（shàn）治（zhì），（）事（shì）善（shàn）能（néng），（）动（dòng）善（shàn）时（shí）。（）

In dwelling, choose fitting ground; in mind, be deep and still; in dealing with others, be kind; in speech, be trustworthy; in governing, bring order; in work, use ability; in action, choose the right time.

The passage applies the example of water to seven parts of life. Sound conduct comes from responding to each situation in the way best suited to it.

夫（fú）唯（wéi）不（bù）争（zhēng），（）故（gù）无（wú）尤（yóu）。（）

Precisely because one does not contend, one incurs no blame.

Not contending is not simple passivity. It means acting without trying to seize advantage or defeat others, thereby avoiding needless conflict and resentment.

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8. Like Water

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