Chapter 66 The reason for the river and the sea

 

Chapter 66

江海所以能為百谷王者,以其善下之,故能為百谷王。是以欲上民,必以言下之,欲先民必以身後之。是以聖人處上而民不重,處前而民不害,是以天下樂推而不厭,以其不爭,故天下莫能與之爭。

jiang hai suo yi neng
wei bai gu wang zhe, yi qi shan xia zhi
江海所以能為百谷王者,以其善下之

The reason for the river and the sea to be able to master a hundred valleys is that they have the vast capacity to receive water well at the lower stream.

gu neng wei bai gu
wang
故能為百谷王

That is why they can be the master of a hundred valleys.

shi yi yu shang min,
bi yi yan xia zhi

是以欲上民,必以言下之

Similarly, for those who want to be a superior of the people, they have to stay low and behave humbly when they speak.

yu xian min bi yi shen
hou zhi
欲先民必以身後之

For those who want to lead the people, they have to stay behind the people and back them up.

shi yi sheng ren chu
shang er min bu zhong
是以聖人處上而民不重

So, the shengren who stays atop the people does not let the people feel any pressure.

chu qian er min bu hai
處前而民不害

The shengren who stays afront the people does not put the people in harm’s way.

shi yi tian xia le tui er bu yan
是以天下樂推而不厭

Therefore all of the people are happy to support their leader without any rejection.

yi qi bu zheng, gu tian xia mo neng yu zhi zheng
以其不爭故天下莫能與之爭

It is because the shengren does not contend. Therefore, there is nothing for the people to contend about with their leader.