Subordinate the Self, Put Yourself Last, Valley Streams Flow Downward,
Small Rivers, Ocean, Humility,
Sage, Noncompetition, Lead by Following, Not Striving, Gentleness
後巳
"That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage and tribute
of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower than they;
It is thus that they are the kings of them all.
So it is that the sage ruler, wishing to be above men, puts himself by his words
below them;
And, wishing to be before them, places his person behind them.
In this way though he has his place above them, men do not feel his weight, nor
though he has his place before them, do they feel it an injury to them.
Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of him.
Because he does not strive, no one finds it possible to strive with him."
- Translated by
James Legge, 1891,
Chapter 66
"That rivers and oceans can of the hundred valleys be kings is due to their
excelling in lowliness.
Thus they can of the hundred valleys be the kings.
The holy man, when anxious to be above the people, must in his words keep
underneath them.
When anxious to lead the people, he must with his person keep behind them.
The holy man dwells above, but the people are not burdened.
He is ahead, but the people suffer no harm.
The world rejoices in exalting him and does not tire.
He strives not, no one in the world will strive with him."
- Translated by
D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913,
Chapter 66
Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching
Translated by Livia Kohn
Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way
"Why is the sea king of a hundred streams?
Because it lies below them.
Therefore it is the king of a hundred streams.
If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility.
If he would lead them, he must follow behind.
In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed;
When he stands before them, they will not be harmed.
The whole world will support him and will not tire of him.
Because he does not compete,
He does not meet competition."
- Translated by
Jane English,
1972, Chapter 66
"Why are the oceans and rivers kings of all the valleys?
Receiving all the watercourses in tribute.
Because they are benevolently the inferiors of all the valleys with regard to
levels.
That is why all the water flows towards them.
Following this example, the Sage who wishes to become superior to the common
people should speak in words beneath himself, speak very humbly of himself.
If he wishes to become the first, he should put himself in last place, and
continue to do so, after he has been exalted.
He could then be elevated to the highest peak without the people feeling
oppressed by him; he could be the first without the people complaining about
him.
The whole empire would serve him with joy, without becoming weary of him.
For, not being opposed to anyone, no one would be opposed to him."
- Translated by
Derek Bryce, 1999,
Chapter 66
By Alexander Simkins. 
By Derek Lin.
By Ming-Dao Deng.
By Benjamin Hoff.
By Ming-Dao Deng.
Translated by Thomas Cleary.
"That which allows the rivers and seas to serve as kings
of the small valley streams,
Is their ability to be below the small valley streams.
Therefore, they can serve as the kings of the small valley streams.
The Sage's presence at the front of his people, results from putting himself
behind them.
The reason he is above them is that in his words he is below them.
But although he is on top of his people, they do not regard him as heavy;
And although he is in front of his people, they do not regard him as posing a
threat.
All under heaven delight in advancing him while never tiring of him.
Because he does not compete,
No one in the world can compete with him."
- Translated by
Robert G. Hendricks,
2000, Chapter 66
"The reason why the sea
is king of all the valleys and the streams
is because it lies beneath them,
and so can act as king.
So anyone who wants to rule the people
must speak humbly to them;
Anyone who wants to lead the people
must follow them as if behind.
Those who are enlightened stand above the people,
and yet the people do not feel weighed down.
Those who are enlightened stand in front of the people,
and yet the people do not feel obstructed.
The whole world joyfully supports those who are enlightened
and never tires of doing so.
Because those who are enlightened contend with no one,
no one contends with them."
- Translated by
Tim Chilcott,
2005, Chapter 66
By Hu Xuzehi
Annotated translation by Victor Mair 
By Ha Poong Kim
By Hans-Georg Moeller 
By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall
By Wes Burgess
By Arthur Waley
"The sea is the ruler of the rivers,
Because it lies below them.
Thus a ruler should always:
Speak like a subordinate, and lead by following after.
The ruler stands above, and no one feels the weight.
The great rivers and streams all pour their tribute of the world onto the seas.
The seas gain this tribute and are called high and mighty because they lie low,
humility gives the sea its power.
It is for this reason that the followers of Tao humble themselves before
mankind.
They speak in tones of humility and lowborn status.
They do not attempt to lead, but learn to follow, and find themselves leading
the people from behind.
In this way the wise sovereign will rule over the people, but they will not feel
his weight.
He will lead the people, but they will not feel slighted or displeased.
The people will gladly uphold and support such a one as this.
The master does not strive, in this way no one can strive against him."
- Translated by
John Dicus, 2002,
Chapter 66
"The sea is the ruler of the rivers,
Because it lies below them.
Thus a ruler should always:
Speak like a subordinate, and lead by following after.
The ruler stands above, and no one feels the weight."
- Translated by
Ned Ludd, Chapter
66
Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni
Translated by Brian Walker
Translated by Arthur Waley
Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles
By Eva Wong
"Oceans and mighty rivers are as kings to all the
valleys, because they lower themselves to the level of the valleys:
That is why they are as kings of the valleys.
Therefore the Sage, if he would be above the people, must in speech seem to put
himself below the people.
If he would lead the people, he must place himself behind them.
Thus, although he is above the people, he is not a burden to them;
Although he goes ahead of the people, he does not block their way.
Thus, the whole world willingly follows and esteems him and is not irked by him.
And because he does not contend, no one contends with him."
- Translated by
Herman Ould, 1946,
Chapter 66
"Great rivers and seas can rule the hundred valleys
because they are positioned below to receive the water.
In this way, they rule the hundred valleys.
The people are positive that their deep-seated desires are of the highest nature
and justify them with inferior speech.
Deep-seated desires began for people when the body was put second.
There is a reason the sages do not engage with or give weight to the people's
deep-seated desires.
They stop in front of the deep-seated desires and the people do not suffer (from
their own deep-seated desires).
This is because Heaven below the sacred body is joyfully supported and not
beyond its limits.
Accordingly it does not compete.
Therefore, Heaven below is without the ability to join with the deep-seated
desires and compete."
- Translated by
Alan Sheets, 2002,
Chapter 66
Translated by Eva Wong 
Translated by Philip Ivahoe
By James Miller
Translated by Stephen Bokencamp
By Alexander and Annellen Simpkins
Translated by Thomas Cleary
By Livia Kohn
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