水善利万物而不争

水善利萬物而不爭

shuǐshànlìwànwùérbùzhēng

phrase

Meanings

1 water benefits all things without contending
2 water nourishes the ten thousand creatures yet strives with none
3 (lit.) water well benefits the myriad things yet does not contend

Characters

thing / creature

contend / fight for

Examples

他为人低调，颇有水善利万物而不争的风范。

Tā wéi rén dīdiào, pō yǒu shuǐ shàn lì wànwù ér bù zhēng de fēngfàn.

He keeps a low profile, with the grace of water that benefits all things without contending.

领导风格讲究水善利万物而不争，润物无声。

Lǐngdǎo fēnggé jiǎngjiū shuǐ shàn lì wànwù ér bù zhēng, rùn wù wú shēng.

The leadership style values the quiet generosity of water — nourishing without making a sound.

Tips

history

From 《道德经》 (Daodejing / Tao Te Ching) chapter 8, by Laozi (老子). Full passage: 『上善若水。水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道』— 'the highest good is like water: it benefits all things and contends with none, settling in places people disdain — so it is close to the Dao.' The chapter is the source of the idiom 上善若水.

usage

Used in business, leadership, and self-cultivation writing to praise selfless, unobtrusive effectiveness. Compare with 上善若水 (highest virtue is like water), often quoted together.

Stroke Order

水 shuǐ

善 shàn

利 lì

万 wàn

物 wù

而 ér

不 bù

争 zhēng