【原文】

上善若水。水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道。

居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，政善治，事善能，动善时。

夫唯不争，故无尤。

【现代汉语】

具有良好个性的事物或人就像水一样。滋润万物而不争夺利益，停留在为众人所厌恶的低位之处，所以，这样的人和事物最接近'道'。

他们能使自己居于利人的位置；心胸善于保持谦退、沉静；善于帮助他人成就事业；待人诚信；善以'道'的准则从事政治活动；处事善于发挥（自己和他人的）所长；善于在适宜的时机行动。

是因为具有接近于'道'的品行，所以自然能够达到以上的描述的境界，而后才能做到没有失误和怨咎。

【英译】

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.

【备注】

本章中很多词句被广为引用，以为成语。尤"上善若水"为人耳熟能详。但真正理解其内涵的却非全部，甚至可能会有误解。

老子以水起兴，阐明其哲学思想中根本原则之一--不争，而观其全篇，也不外乎此，其本质则是寡欲。圣人之所以圣，因其克己自如（从心所欲不逾矩）；同时洞悉人性，不勉强人人皆圣，故只劝导"寡"欲，而非禁欲。

上寡欲而下自从，民风自正。这是先贤期盼并努力引导社会走向进步繁荣（有欲使然）而又不失体统秩序（寡欲使然）的崇高理想。
关键字:道德经
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