“上善若水”语出《道德经》，意指至高的善德善举就如同水的品性，默默滋养世间万物而不争强斗胜。老子以水的柔弱之性比喻至善的执政者应有的品德。执政者面对百姓，应该像水之于万物，辅助、成就百姓而不与其相争，后多指为人处事时能像水一样滋润万物，尽己所能帮助他人却从不争名逐利，或者具有坚忍负重、谦卑居下的品格。

Great virtue is like water.

This comes from Dao De Jing (Classic of the Way and Virtue), also known as Lao Zi (The Book of Lao Zi). It means that the greatest virtue is like water, nurturing all things without competing with them.

Lao Zi (dates unknown), or Li Er, a thinker of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and the founder of philosophical Daoism, used this simile to advocate that a virtuous ruler should govern with the gentle and accommodating qualities displayed by water. He should assist and provide for people just as water does, rather than competing with them for resources. Later this term came to mean that one should act as water does in nourishing all things and do one’s best to help others without seeking fame or profit. It also implies virtues such as endurance and modesty.