Why Rivers Run to the Sea

Is the person you'd follow the one standing at the front?

Original

江海所以能為百谷王者，以其善下之，故能為百谷王。是以聖人欲上民，必以言下之；欲先民，必以身後之。是以聖人處上而民不重，處前而民不害，是以天下樂推而不厭。以其不爭，故天下莫能與之爭。

In plain words

Rivers and seas can be kings of a hundred valleys because they are good at staying low; that is why they are kings of a hundred valleys. So the sage who wants to be above the people speaks to them humbly; wanting to go before the people, he puts himself behind them. So he stands above and the people feel no weight; he stands in front and the people feel no harm. The whole world gladly pushes him forward and never tires of it. Because he does not compete, no one in the world can compete with him.

Key words

百谷王bǎi gǔ wángWhere the waters of every valley end up. A “king” here is where all things gather, not one who presses down.
善下shàn xiàGood at staying low; humble toward others.
樂推lè tuīGladly pushing someone forward.

Reading it step by step

The third treasure is “not daring to be first in the world.” Laozi also sums it up in one word: behind. Today we look at one of his favourite images: rivers and the sea.

First: why are rivers and seas the kings of a hundred valleys? Because they are lowest. The water from every valley runs down into them. The sea doesn't go out and seize it. It simply sits lowest, so everything gathers there. High ground can't hold water; low ground collects it without trying. A “king” here is not someone pressing down on others, but the place everyone comes home to.

Second: “humble in words, behind in person.” If the sage wants to be above the people, he speaks to them humbly; if he wants to lead them, he puts himself behind them. A good leader does more than give orders. They make the most ordinary person feel respected and needed, and when they set out to do something they say, “I'm walking along with all of you.” A hexagram in the Book of Changes is always drawn from the bottom line up; the lower three lines are its foundation.

A team, too, starts with the people at the bottom feeling valued. Elsewhere Laozi says that whoever uses people well places himself beneath them: Liu Bei went three times to Zhuge Liang's thatched hut to ask for his help, and Zhuge Liang served him wholeheartedly for the rest of his life. So the sage stands above and nobody feels the weight; he stands in front and nobody feels harmed.

stay lowthe lowest place

every valley flows inwater gathers by itself

humble words, a place behindspeak low, stand back

gladly pushed forwardno one can compete

The low place doesn't grab; the water comes

Third: “because he does not compete, no one can compete with him.” For an ordinary person, not competing at least guarantees you won't lose. Put someone who doesn't compete in a high place, and people gladly push them forward and never tire of it. They stand opposite no one, so there is no one to fight them. This isn't a tactic. It's a position: be low, and the water comes.

Bring it home. The person who grabs the floor and the credit first in a meeting is not always the one people want to follow. The one who says “we did this together” and takes the hard job first is the one the team pushes to the front. Families are the same: when a parent crouches down to talk at a child's eye level, the child comes closer.

To gather every stream, first become the lowest water.

One line to carry

To gather every stream, be the lowest water.

Today's question

Where you lead (at home, at work, among friends), what is one thing where you could step back and let someone else stand in front?

Quick check

Why can rivers and seas be “kings of a hundred valleys”?

Next pageThe More You Give, the More You HavePage 30

IV · Three Treasures to Live By — Compassion, frugality, not rushing to be first

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