上 善 若 水

The persons or things that have the highest excellence are just like water. They benefit all things instead of contention. They stay at the lowest place which all men dislike. So this kind of persons and things are very close to 'Tao'.

They stay at the favorable place for all people. They make their heart keep still and modest. They are good at assisting others to obtain achievement. They can manage government affairs in Tao's guide line. They are adept in taking advantage of resources. Their action and movement is in suitable time.

They can achieve the perfect conditions hereinbefore because they have good character which is accord with the standard of Tao's. And then, they will have no fault and blame.

      上善若水,。水善利萬物而不爭,，處眾人之所惡，故幾于道。

      居善地,，心善淵,，與善仁，言善信,，政善治,，事善能，動善時,。

      夫唯不爭,，故無尤。

 水性柔順,，明能照物,，滋養(yǎng)萬物而不與萬物相爭，有功于萬物而又甘心屈尊于萬物之下,。老子弘揚水的精神,，其實是在宣揚一種處世哲學(xué)，做人要與水一樣,，有極大的可塑性,。水性柔而能變形：在海洋中是海洋之形，在江河中是江河之形,，在杯盆中是杯盆之形,，在瓶罐中是瓶罐之形。

孔子云： 水有五德,，因它常流不息,，能普及一切生物，好像有德,；流必向下,，不逆成形，或方或長,，必循理,，好像有義；浩大無盡,，好像有道,；流幾百丈山間而不懼，好像有勇,；安放沒有高低不平,，好像守法；量見多少,，不用削刮,，好像正直,；無孔不入，好像明察,；發(fā)源必自西,，好像立志；取出取入,，萬物就此洗滌潔凈,，又好像善于變化。水有這些好德處,，所以君子遇水必觀。