--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Highest good is like water. Because water…" description: "\"Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/laozi-147_closest_highest-good-is-like-water-because-water_2347442.jpg" --- # Highest good is like water. Because water excels in… ![“Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be, it comes closest to the way.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/laozi-147_closest_highest-good-is-like-water-because-water_2347442.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/laozi-147_closest_highest-good-is-like-water-because-water_2347442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/laozi-147_closest_highest-good-is-like-water-because-water_2347442.jpg) > “Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be, it comes closest to the way.” [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Water’s virtue lies in its humility and adaptability, benefiting all without struggle, illustrating the ideal of effortless action and harmony. **In simple terms:** Humility and flexibility bring greatest benefit. Key Takeaway Live simply and adaptably. Themes humility flexibility non‑contention harmony effortless action Mood calm thoughtful Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - Conflict resolution - leadership - environmental stewardship - personal growth - team management Key Concepts Taoist philosophy natural order wu‑wei ethical living Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice non‑contention in daily life? - What areas need more humility? A Different Perspective Rigid structures may resist the fluidity water promotes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [A man's excellence is like that of water; It benefits all things without striving; It takes to the low places shunned by men. Water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-man-s-excellence-is-like-that-of-water-it-benefits-all-things/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The best way to live / is to be like water / For water benefits all things / and goes against none of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-best-way-to-live-is-to-be-like-water-for-water-benefits-all/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The best people are like water, which benefits all things and does not compete with them. It stays in lowly places that others reject.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-best-people-are-like-water-which-benefits-all-things-and-does-not/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all things, without conflict. It flows through places that people loathe. Thereby it is close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/supreme-good-is-like-water-water-greatly-benefits-all-things-without/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Sometimes bad is good.” “Bullshit. That’s what people say to alleviate their own guilt or justify their own weakness. Bad is bad. A is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenner/sometimes-bad-is-good-bullshit-that-s-what-people-say-to-alleviate/) [J. Kenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenner/) > [“All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. Out of this situation only good will come. I am safe." It will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/all-is-well-everything-is-working-out-for-my-highest-good-out-of-this/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [Thus you are just not because you give what is owed, but because you do what is appropriate to you as the highest good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/thus-you-are-just-not-because-you-give-what-is-owed-but-because-you/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [Take what you can do and use it for the highest good to benefit others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/take-what-you-can-do-and-use-it-for-the-highest-good-to-benefit-others/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The state or political community, which is the highest of all, and which embraces all the rest, aims at good in a greater degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-state-or-political-community-which-is-the-highest-of-all-and/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“The Highest Good consists," says he, "in the emptiness of mind and non-attachment. Transcendence is its cause, and Nirvana is its result. The Middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/the-highest-good-consists-says-he-in-the-emptiness-of-mind-and-non/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [Nothing is as bad as it seems. Nothing. There is a benefit and a blessing hidden in the folds of every experience and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/nothing-is-as-bad-as-it-seems-nothing-there-is-a-benefit-and-a/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [If it is in the highest good for all life everywhere...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-morgan/if-it-is-in-the-highest-good-for-all-life-everywhere/) [Marlo Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-morgan/) > [“Hope reminds us of the power of love and clears the path toward the highest good for all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/hope-reminds-us-of-the-power-of-love-and-clears-the-path-toward-the/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Often the remedy is deemed the highest good because it helps so many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paracelsus/often-the-remedy-is-deemed-the-highest-good-because-it-helps-so-many/) [Paracelsus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paracelsus/) > [The unconscious is not just evil by nature, it is also the source of the highest good: not only dark but also light, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-unconscious-is-not-just-evil-by-nature-it-is-also-the-source-of/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) ## More by Laozi > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-lightness-the-root-is-lost-in-haste-the-ruler-is-lost/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-the-sage-wants-to-stand-above-people-he-must-speak-to-them-from/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Goodie-goodies are the thieves of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/goodie-goodies-are-the-thieves-of-virtue/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He that humbles himself shall be preserved entire. He that bends shall be made straight. He that is empty shall be filled. He that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-that-humbles-himself-shall-be-preserved-entire-he-that-bends-shall/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-way-of-the-sage-is-to-act-but-not-to-compete/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/do-nondoing-strive-for-nonstriving-savor-the-flavorless-regard-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Without looking through the window, you can see Heaven's Way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/without-looking-through-the-window-you-can-see-heaven-s-way/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What's the difference between beautiful and ugly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-s-the-difference-between-beautiful-and-ugly/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In stillness the muddied water returns to clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-stillness-the-muddied-water-returns-to-clarity/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He (the sage) is good to those who are good. He is also good to those who are not good. That is the virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-the-sage-is-good-to-those-who-are-good-he-is-also-good-to-those/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There is a thing inherent and natural which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone and never changes; It pervades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/there-is-a-thing-inherent-and-natural-which-existed-before-heaven-and/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-is-a-good-man-but-a-bad-man-s-teacher-what-is-a-bad-man-but-a/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Explore all 1,140 Laozi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## More Closest quotes > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Your closest and your most dedicated fans will be your ultimate test. They will test you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/your-closest-and-your-most-dedicated-fans-will-be-your-ultimate-test/) [Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/) > [“The closest she got to pretence was politeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/the-closest-she-got-to-pretence-was-politeness/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [The first responsibility of the Muslim is as teacher. That is his job, to teach. His first school, his first classroom is within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/the-first-responsibility-of-the-muslim-is-as-teacher-that-is-his-job/) [H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [One my closest friends doesn't care about sharing her clothes or jewelry, but she never shares her fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/one-my-closest-friends-doesn-t-care-about-sharing-her-clothes-or/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [Life’s a journey that goes round and round and the end is closest to the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/life-s-a-journey-that-goes-round-and-round-and-the-end-is-closest-to/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [I keep a lot to myself, and I cherish the things that are for me and the people closest to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-oakley/i-keep-a-lot-to-myself-and-i-cherish-the-things-that-are-for-me-and/) [Tyler Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-oakley/) > [I am not somebody who likes to give advice, or anything like that, unless it's my closest friends or family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-am-not-somebody-who-likes-to-give-advice-or-anything-like-that/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [On foreign policy, President Obama has kept our nation safe from terrorism and restored our standing in the world. When it comes to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-schumer/on-foreign-policy-president-obama-has-kept-our-nation-safe-from/) [Chuck Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-schumer/) > [You never know really what anyone thinks about you - that's why all my closest friends are ones I've had since my schooling days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cooper/you-never-know-really-what-anyone-thinks-about-you-that-s-why-all-my/) [Dominic Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cooper/) > [Arthur Conan Doyle was entranced by the notion of a brilliant detective who can deduce everything a stranger has been up to from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-yglesias/arthur-conan-doyle-was-entranced-by-the-notion-of-a-brilliant/) [Rafael Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-yglesias/) > [A reflection of an exact image is the closest thing to you-so that you can see it-but it's far enough away so that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-bentley/a-reflection-of-an-exact-image-is-the-closest-thing-to-you-so-that/) [Wes Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-bentley/) > [...bookstores, libraries... they're the closest thing I have to a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/bookstores-libraries-they-re-the-closest-thing-i-have-to-a-church/) [Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/) Browse all 695 Closest quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be, it comes closest to the way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/highest-good-is-like-water-because-water-excels-in-benefiting-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Closest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/highest-good-is-like-water-because-water-excels-in-benefiting-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/laozi-147_closest_highest-good-is-like-water-because-water_2347442.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/laozi-147_closest_highest-good-is-like-water-because-water_2347442.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/laozi-147_closest_highest-good-is-like-water-because-water_2347442.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with…” — Laozi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Laozi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Highest good is like water. Because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/highest-good-is-like-water-because-water-excels-in-benefiting-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/highest-good-is-like-water-because-water-excels-in-benefiting-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```