ue　on　long　after　we　are　gone。
  8
  The　highest　goodness　resembles　water
  Water　greatly　benefits　myriad　things　without　contention
  It　stays　in　places　that　people　dislike
  Therefore　it　is　similar　to　the　Tao
  Dwelling　at　the　right　place
  Heart　with　great　depth
  Giving　with　great　kindness
  Words　with　great　integrity
  Governing　with　great　administration
  Handling　with　great　capability
  Moving　with　great　timing
  Because　it　does　not　contend
  It　is　therefore　beyond　reproach
  Water　is　the　most　fitting　metaphor　for　the　Tao　and　the　nature　of　sages　who　follow　the　Tao。　Water　nourishes　plants　and　slakes　the　thirst　of　animals。　Water　also　assumes　the　lowest　position　it　can　no　matter　where　it　happens　to　be。　These　observations　reveal　to　us　characteristics　of　both　the　Tao　and　the　sages。
  Water　flows　to　the　lowest　place　not　because　it　intentionally　does　so；　but　because　it　follows　its　own　nature。　The　sages；　like　water；　also　place　themselves　lower；　not　because　they　contrive　to　do　so；　but　because　it　is　their　nature　to　be　humble。
  Sages　have　depth　of　character。　Like　a　deep　body　of　water；　sages　are　tranquil　and　composed。　A　pool　of　water　is　not　only　the　surface　but　also　everything　below　it。　Likewise；　there　is　more　to　a　sage　than　meets　the　eyes。　It　may　take　a　while　for　people　to　realize　this；　but　the　more　they　get　to　know　the　sage；　the　more　they　discover。
  Water　provides　its　benefits　and　moves　on；　without　waiting　for　any　benefits　in　return。　Sages　benefit　others　in　the　exact　same　way。　They　give　only　to　give；　not　because　they　want　recognition　or　payback。　When　they　provide　teachings；　assistance　or　guidance；　they　do　so　with　no　conditions；　no　strings　attached；　and　no　expectations。
  Water　reflects　its　surroundings。　It　does　not　try　to　hide　or　change　anything　in　its　reflections。　When　sages　speak；　it　is　with　this　same　sense　of　integrity　and　sincerity。　People　come　to　trust　the　sage；　because　they　realize　the　sage　will　give　them　the　truth　when　no　one　else　will。
  Water　administers　to　everything　equally。　Water　plays　no　favorites。　It　slakes　the　thirst　of　the　kind　person　just　as　it　does　the　unkind　person。　Taking　a　cue　from　this；　sages　also　do　not　pick　and　choose　the　recipients　of　the　benefits　they　provide。　Their　impartial　administration　is　conducted　without　bias　and　judgment。
  Water　is　versatile。　It　conforms　to　the　shape　of　any　container　to　do　its　work。　Following　this；　the　sages　also　cultivate　flexibility　and　adaptability　in　themselves。　Because　the　world　is　constantly　changing；　they　also　make　constant　adjustments　to　handle　new　challenges。
  Water　moves　in　accordance　with　Heaven。　Whether　it　takes　the　form　of　rain；　snow；　or　hail；　water　follows　the　timing　of　natural　events。　The　sages　are　the　same　way。　They　live　each　day　following　the　natural　flow　of　events；　and　take　appropriate　actions　at　the　appropriate　time。
  Most　importantly；　water　does　not　contend。　It　gives　itself　to　everything　without　complaints　or　protests。　Like　water；　sages　do　not　engage　in　petty　squabbles；　because　their　only　wish　is　to　be　of　service。　They　are　at　peace　with　everyone；　and　that　makes　them　beyond　reproach。
  Notes
  Quick　summary　of　this　chapter　…　Tao　cultivators　observe　water　in　order　to　emulate　the　following　characteristics：
  Natural　humility。
  Depth　of　character。
  Giving　without　expectations。
  Sincerity　and　integrity。
  Equal　administration。
  Versatility　and　adaptability。
  Natural　timing。
  Non…contention。
  9
  Holding　a　cup　and　overfilling　it
  Cannot　be　as　good　as　stopping　short
  Pounding　a　blade　and　sharpening　it
  Cannot　be　kept　for　long
  Gold　and　jade　fill　up　the　room
  No　one　is　able　to　protect　them
  Wealth　and　position　bring　arrogance
  And　leave　upon　oneself　disasters
  When　achievement　is　completed；　fame　attained；　withdraw　oneself
  This　is　the　Tao　of　Heaven
  If　you　keep　filling　a　container　with　liquid　until　it　overflows；　things　will　get　wet　and　messy　around　you。　It　is　better　to　stop　just　short　of　fullness。　Similarly；　if　you　pound　a　blade　repeatedly　and　sharpen　it　too　much；　you　end　up　with　a　blade　that　is　easily　broken　and　won't　last　very　long。
  A　room　that　is　full　of　treasures　becomes　the　target　of　thieves　and　robbers。　It　cannot　be　safeguarded　forever。　If　you　become　arrogant　as　the　result　of　great　wealth　or　high　position；　you　are　sure　to　cause　yourself　big　problems；　one　way　or　another。
  Once　you　have　achieved　success　and　fame；　it　is　best　to　step　gracefully；　quietly　aside。　This　is　the　best　way　to　live　…　in　full　accordance　with　the　Tao。
  Notes
  The　central　idea：　doing　anything　to　excess　is　a　bad　idea。　Do　just　enough　and　nothing　extra。
  In　our　translation；　the　line　〃cannot　be　kept　for　long〃　is　not　referring　to　the　activity　of　pounding　and　sharpening　a　blade。　It's　a　reference　to　the　over…sharpened　blade　that　can　easily　break　and　therefore　cannot　last。
  Another　interpretation　of　the　above　is　that　the　sharp　edge　of　the　blade　cannot　be　maintained　for　long。
  The　〃withdraw　oneself〃　phrase　does　not　mean　to　retreat　from　society　and　become　a　hermit。　It　means　there　is　no　need　to　brag　about　your　achievements；　take　on　pompous　airs；　or　put　on　showy　displays。　Such　egotistic　acts　invariably　bring　negative　consequences。
  10
  In　holding　the　soul　and　embracing　oneness
  Can　one　be　without　straying？
  In　concentrating　the　energy　and　reaching　relaxation
  Can　one　be　like　an　infant？
  In　cleaning　away　the　worldly　view
  Can　one　be　without　imperfections？
  In　loving　the　people　and　ruling　the　nation
  Can　one　be　without　manipulation？
  In　the　heavenly　gate's　opening　and　closing
  Can　one　hold　to　the　feminine　principle？
  In　understanding　clearly　all　directions
  Can　one　be　without　intellectuality？
  Bearing　it；　rearing　it
  Bearing　without　possession
  Achieving　without　arrogance
  Raising　without　domination
  This　is　called　the　mystic　virtue
  In　holding　to　your　inner　essence　and　embracing　the　oneness　of　your　being；　can　your　mind　avoid　being　distracted；　and　thus　going　astray？
  In　focusing　on　your　ch'i　（the　〃breath〃；　or　the　living　energy　that　courses　through　the　body）　and　reaching　a　relaxed；　softened　state；　can　you　identify　with　the　purity　of　a　newborn　child？
  In　cleansing　and　getting　rid　of　all　the　diversions　of　the　materialistic　panorama；　can　you　be　completely　without　any　lingering　attachments？
  In　caring　for　the　people　and　governing　a　nation；　can　you　administer　without　resorting　to　manipulative　tricks？
  When　the　gateway　to　the　soul　opens；　the　mind　is　in　motion；　when　it　closes；　the　mind　at　rest。　In　the　opening　and　closing　of　this　gateway；　can　you　grasp　the　yin　principle　of　serenity　and　quietude？
  In　approaching　a　true　understanding　that　reaches　out　in　all　directions　and　encompasses　all　corners　of　the　world；　can　you　let　go　of　the　false　knowledge　gained　through　rationalization　and　intellectual　sophistry？
  The　Tao　gives　birth　to　everything　and　nurtures　everything；　but　does　so　without　becoming　possessive。
  Creation　is　full　of　wondrous　and　marvelous　works　of　nature。　The　Tao　is　the　force　behind　them；　and　yet　does　not　become　presumptuous　in　such　achievements。　It　gives　life　every　chance　to　develop　and　thrive；　and　yet　does　not　become　domineering　or　controlling　because　of　that。
  We　call　this　attribute　the　mystic　virtue。　Sages　emulate　it　in　their　every　action。　They　nurture；　encourage；　teach　and　mentor　those　around　them　without　the　need　to　possess；　gloat；　or　dominate。
  Notes
  The　line　〃Can　one　be　without　straying？〃　refers　to　straying　from　the　path　of　centered　oneness。　Some　translations　render　〃straying〃　as　〃separation〃　or　〃division；〃　thus　obscuring　the　original　meaning　and　making　the　line　more　difficult　to　understand。
  The　line　〃In　loving　the　people　and　ruling　the　nation〃　may　seem　to　be　directed　at　kings　and　emperors；　but　actually　addresses　the　individual　as　well。　Think　of　a　kingdom　as　a　metaphor　for　your　workplace；　family；　social　circle；　sports　team；　and　even　your　immediate　surroundings；　and　the　practical　utility　of　this　section　becomes　clear。
  11
  Thirty　spokes　join　in　one　hub
  In　its　emptiness；　there　is　the　function　of　a　vehicle
  Mix　clay　to　create　a　container
  In　its　emptiness；　there　is　the　function　of　a　container
  Cut　open　doors　and　windows　to　create　a　room
  In　its　emptiness；　there　is　the　function　of　a　room
  Therefore；　that　which　exists　is　used　to　create　benefit
  That　which　is　empty　is　used　to　create　functionality
  In　a　wheel；　thirty　spokes　come　together　in　one　hub。　The　hole　in　the　center　of　the　hub　…　the　place　where　it　is　empty　…　is　what　makes　the　wheel　useful　as　part　of　a　vehicle。
  When　we　mix　clay　to　create　a　container；　we　notice　that　it　is　the　empty　space　in　the　center　of　the　container　that　give　it　the　usefulness　of　holding　things。
  When　we　cut　open　a　wall　to　make　space　for　windows　and　doors；　we　notice　that　it　is　these　openings　that　make　the　room　truly　useful　to　us。　If　such　openings　did　not　exist；　we　would　have　no　way　of　accessing　the　room！
  Therefore；　we　can　see　how　we　create　solid　objects　to　provide　us　with　benefits　and　convenience；　but　it　is　actually　the　emptiness　form