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Chapter 66

江海之所以能为百谷王者

江jiāng海hǎi之zhī所suǒ以yǐ能néng为wèi百bǎi谷gǔ王wáng者zhě，
以yǐ其qí善shàn下xià之zhī，
故gù能néng为wèi百bǎi谷gǔ王wáng。
是shì以yǐ圣shèng人rén欲yù上shàng民mín，
必bì以yǐ言yán下xià之zhī；
欲yù先xiān民mín，
必bì以yǐ身shēn后hòu之zhī。
是shì以yǐ圣shèng人rén处chǔ上shàng而ér民mín不bù重zhòng，
处chǔ前qián而ér民mín不bù害hài。
是shì以yǐ天tiān下xià乐lè推tuī而ér不bù厌yàn。
以yǐ其qí不bù争zhēng，
故gù天tiān下xià莫mò能néng与yǔ之zhī争zhēng。

The reason that the Yangzi and the sea rule as kings over hundreds of river valleys is because they know well to take the lower position; that is why they rule as kings over hundreds of river valleys. Hence if you wish to rule above the people you must employ words to take the lower position; if you wish to lead people you must place

yourself behind them. Therefore, the sage dwells above and the people don’t consider him heavy, he stands ahead of them and they do not consider it an injury to them. Hence the world delights in supporting him untiringly. Because he does not contend, no one in the world can contend with him.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.

© 2010, 2016, 2019 Robert Eno. Freely available for personal use and not-for-profit educational settings. For other purposes, apart from fair use, copyright is not waived.