#Click on a sentence 1 2 3 4 Chapter 7 Chapter 9 Back to index #

Ch. 08 Sentence 1
Beck The best are like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete with them. It flows to the lowest level. In this it comes near to the Way.
Blackney The highest goodness, water-like, Does good to everything and goes Unmurmuring to places men despise; But so, is close in nature to the Way.
Bynner Man is at his best, like water, Serves as he goes along: Like water he seeks his own level, The common level of life,
Byrn The supreme good is like water, which benefits all of creation without trying to compete with it. It gathers in unpopular places. Thus it is like the Tao.
Chan The best (man) is like water. Water is good; it benefits all things and does not compete with them. It dwells in (lowly) places that all disdain. This is why it is so near to Tao.
Cleary Higher good is like water: the good in water benefits all, and does so without contention. It rests where people dislike to be, so it is close to the Way.
Crowley Admire you the High Way of Water! Is not Water the soul of the life of things, whereby they change? Yet it seeks its level, and abides content in obscurity. So also it resembles the Dao, in this Way thereof!
Hansen Higher worth is like water. Water is good at benefitting the ten-thousand natural kinds Without wrangling for position. What the crowd despises Hence close to the guide.
LaFargue The highest Excellence is like water. Water, Excellent at being of benefit to the thousands of things, does not contend - it settles in places everyone else avoids. Yes, it is just about Tao.
Legge The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence of water appears in its benefitting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao.
Lindauer Better value looks like water The value if water profits the 10000 things yet without contending It dwells in places the collective mind dislikes - So it is severed, relating to tao.
LinYutan The best of men is like water; Water benefits all things And does not compete with them. It dwells in (the lowly) places that all disdain - Wherein it comes near to the Tao.
Mabry The sagely person is like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete with them. It gathers in unpopular places. In this it is like the Tao.
McDonald The highest good is like that of water. The goodness of water is that it benefits the ten thousand creatures; yet itself hardly ever scrambles - it seems quite content with the places that all men disdain. It's this that can make water so near to some dao.
Merel The best of man is like water, Which benefits all things, and does not contend with them, Which flows in places that others disdain, Where it is in harmony with the Way.
Mitchell The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content with the low places that people disdain. Thus it is like the Tao.
Muller The highest goodness is like water. Water easily benefits all things without struggle. Yet it abides in places that men hate. Therefore it is like the Tao.
Red Pine The best are like water bringing help to all without competing choosing what others avoid hence approaching the Tao
Ta-Kao The highest goodness is like water. Water is beneficent to all things but does not contend. It stays in places which others despise. Therefore it is near Tao.
Walker The highest good is like water which benefits all things and contends with none. it flows in low places that others disdain and thus it is close to the Tao.
Wieger Transcendent goodness is like water. Water likes to do good to all beings; it does not struggle for any definite form or position, but puts itself in the lowest places that no one wants. By this, it is the reflection of the Principle.
World Water is like Infinity, it gives itself to all things without distinction or judgment and settles into the lowest places without deliberation.
Wu The highest form of goodness is like water. Water knows how to benefit all things without striving with them. It stays in places loathed by all men. Therefore, it comes near the Tao.

Ch. 08 Sentence 2
Beck In their dwellings, they love the earth. In their hearts, they love what is profound. In their friendship, they love humanity. In their words, they love sincerity.
Blackney If the good of the house is from land, Or the good of the mind is depth, Or love is the virtue of friendship, Or honesty blesses one's talk,
Bynner Loves living close to the earth, Living clear down in his heart, Loves kinship with his neighbours, The pick of words that tell the truth,
Byrn The location makes the dwelling good. Depth of understanding makes the mind good. A kind heart makes the giving good.
Chan (The best man) in his dwelling loves the earth. In his heart, he loves what is profound. In his associations, he loves humanity. In his words, he loves faithfulness.
Cleary Where it dwells becomes good ground; profound is the good in its heart, benevolent the good it bestows. Goodness in words is trustworthiness,
Crowley The virtue of a house is to be well-placed; of the mind, to be at ease in silence as of Space; of societies, to be well-disposed;
Hansen In dwelling value the earth. In heart-mind value depth. In being-with value kindness. In words value reliability.
LaFargue Excellence in a house: the ground "Excellence in a mind: depth Excellence in companions: Goodness Excellence in speaking: sincerity Excellence in setting things right:
Legge The 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;
Lindauer The value of a home is in location The value of a mind is in breadth The value of a relationship is in humanity The value of a word is in belief
LinYutan In his dwelling, (the Sage) loves the (lowly) earth; In his heart, he loves what is profound; In his relations with others, he loves kindness; In his words, he loves sincerity;
Mabry In dwelling, live close to the Earth. In thinking, be open to new ideas. In relationships, be kind. In speech, tell the truth and keep your word.
McDonald And if men think the ground the best place for building a house upon, if among thoughts they value those that are profound, if in friendship they value gentleness; in words, truth, or sincere faithfulness,
Merel So the sage: Lives within nature, Thinks within the deep, Gives within impartiality, Speaks within trust,
Mitchell In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous.
Muller For dwelling, the Earth is good. For the mind, depth is good. The goodness of giving is in the timing. The goodness of speech is in honesty.
Red Pine dwelling with earth thinking with depth helping with kindness speaking with truth
Ta-Kao In dwelling, think it a good place to live; In feeling, make the heart deep; In friendship, keep on good terms with men; In words, have confidence;
Walker In living, choose your ground well. In thought, stay deep in the heart. In relationships, be generous. In speaking, hold to the truth.
Wieger From its example, those who imitate the Principle, lower themselves, sink themselves. They are benevolent, sincere, regulated, efficacious, and they conform themselves to the times.
World In dwelling, live in harmony with the land. In meditation, remember your oneness with the Infinite. In dealing with others, do not judge. In communicating, relate the truth.
Wu In choosing your dwelling, know how to keep to the ground. In cultivating your mind, know how to dive in the hidden deeps. In dealing with others, know how to be gentle and kind. In speaking, know how to keep your words.

Ch. 08 Sentence 3
Beck In government, they love peace. In business, they love ability. In their actions, they love timeliness.
Blackney Or in government, goodness is order, Or in business, skill is admired, Or the worth of an act lies in timing,
Bynner The even tenor of a well-run state, The fair profit of able dealing, The right timing of useful deeds,
Byrn Integrity makes the government good. Accomplishment makes your labors good. Proper timing makes a decision good.
Chan In government, he loves order. In handling affairs, he loves competence. In his activities, he loves timeliness.
Cleary goodness in government is order; goodness in work is ability, goodness in action is timeliness.
Crowley of governments, to maintain quietude; of work, to be skillfully performed; and of motion, to be made at the right time.
Hansen In rectifying value order. In social affairs value ability. In action value timing.
LaFargue good management Excellence on the job: ability Excellence in making a move: good timing."
Legge 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.
Lindauer The value of a government is in governing The value of an effort is in ability The value of a movement is in time.
LinYutan In government, he loves peace; In business affairs, he loves ability; In his actions, he loves choosing the right time.
Mabry In leading people, demonstrate integrity. In daily matters, be competent. In acting, consider the appropriate timing.
McDonald in government, [bugbear] order; in deeds: competence, ability, effectiveness; in actions: timeliness and being properly timed -
Merel Governs within order, Crafts within ability, Acts within opportunity.
Mitchell In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
Muller In government, self-mastery is good. In handling affairs, ability is good.
Red Pine governing with peace working with skill moving with time
Ta-Kao In ruling, abide by good order; In business, take things easy; In motion, make use of the opportunity.
Walker In leadership, be organized. In work, do your best. In action, be timely.
Wieger -
World In governing, be fair. In daily life, be in harmony with all things and at peace with all people. In action, be mindful that there is a time and a season for all things.
Wu In governing, know how to maintain order. In transacting business, know how to be efficient. making a move, know how to choose the right moment.

Ch. 08 Sentence 4
Beck It is because they do not compete that there is no resentment.
Blackney Then peace is the goal of the Way By which no one ever goes astray.
Bynner And for blocking no one's way No one blames him.
Byrn Only when there is no competition will we all live in peace.
Chan It is because he does not compete that he is without reproach.
Cleary But only by non-contention is there nothing extreme.
Crowley Also it is the virtue of a man to abide in his place without discontent; thus offends he no man.
Hansen In general, simply don't wrangle Hence have no indiscretion.
LaFargue Simply do not contend then there will be no fault.
Legge And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him.
Lindauer In the end only be without contending So be absent from reproach.
LinYutan It is because he does not contend That he is without reproach.
Mabry When you do not try to prove yourself to others, You will be beyond reproach.
McDonald In each case it's because they prefer things that hardly lead to strife, and therefore hardly go much astray or amiss.
Merel He does not contend, and none contend against him.
Mitchell When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
Muller If you do not wrangle, you will not be blamed.
Red Pine and because they don't compete they aren't maligned
Ta-Kao Since there is no contention, there is no blame.
Walker If you compete with no one, no one can compete with you.
Wieger They do not struggle for their own interest, but yield. Therefore they do not suffer and contradiction.
World Avoid judging and its legacy contention and flow in the peace and harmony of the oneness of humanity.
Wu If you do not strive with others, You will be free from blame.