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Great Virtue Is Like Water
最完美的善就像水的品性一樣，滋潤(rùn)萬(wàn)物卻不與萬(wàn)物相爭(zhēng)。出自《老子》，老子以水的這種柔弱之性比喻至善的執(zhí)政者應(yīng)有的品德。執(zhí)政者面對(duì)百姓，應(yīng)如水之于萬(wàn)物，輔助、成就百姓而不與百姓相爭(zhēng)。后多指為人處世時(shí)能像水一樣滋潤(rùn)萬(wàn)物，盡己所能幫助他人卻從不爭(zhēng)名逐利，或者具有堅(jiān)忍負(fù)重、謙卑居下的品格。
The greatest virtue is just like water, nurturing all things without competing with them. This term was first used by Laozi to advocate the belief that a virtuous ruler should govern with gentle and accommodating qualities as demonstrated by water. He should assist and provide for people just like what the water does, instead of competing with them for resources. Later, this term came to mean that people should nourish all things as water does and try their best to help people without seeking fame or profit. It also refers to human virtues such as endurance for the sake of achieving a noble goal and modesty.
引例 Citation：
◎上善若水。水善利萬(wàn)物而不爭(zhēng)，處眾人之所惡，故幾于道。（《老子·八章》）
至善之人具有如水一般的品德。水善于滋潤(rùn)萬(wàn)物而不與萬(wàn)物相爭(zhēng)，處于眾人所厭惡的卑下之處，因此水幾近于道。
Great virtue is like water. Water nourishes all things gently and does not compete with anything, content to be in a low place not sought by people. Water is therefore closest to dao. (Laozi)
推薦：教育部 國(guó)家語(yǔ)委
供稿：北京外國(guó)語(yǔ)大學(xué) 外語(yǔ)教學(xué)與研究出版社
責(zé)任編輯：錢耐安
