Tao Te Ching Ch.8: The Highest Good Is Like Water (上善若水)

上shàng善shàn若ruò水shuǐ。

1The highest excellence is like (that of) water.

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

2The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike.

3Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao.

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

4The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place; that of the mind is in abysmal stillness; that of associations is in their being with the virtuous; that of government is in its securing good order; that of (the conduct of) affairs is in its ability; and that of (the initiation of) any movement is in its timeliness.

夫fú唯wéi不bù争zhēng，故gù无wú尤yóu。

5And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him.