《道德經》中英文對照版(8)

第八章

　　上善若水，水善利萬物而不爭。処衆人之所惡，故幾於道。

　　居善地，心善淵，與善仁，言善信，正善治，事善能，動善時。

　　夫唯不爭，故無尤。

　　Chapter 8

　　The highest good is like that of water. The goodness of water is that it benefits the ten thousand creatures； yet itself does not scramble， but is content with the places that all men disdain. It is this that makes water so near to the Way.

　　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； in government， good order；

　　In deeds， effectiveness； in actions， timeliness-

　　In each case it is because they prefer what does not lead to strife，[1]

　　And therefore does not go amiss.

　　[1]Even ordinary people realize the importance of the Taoist principle of"water-like" behaviour， i.e. not striving to get on top or to the fore.