--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Supreme good is like water. Water greatly…" description: "\"Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all things, without conflict. It flows through places that people loathe. Thereby it is close to the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/laozi-147_all-things_supreme-good-is-like-water-water-greatly_2549766.jpg" --- # Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all… ![“Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all things, without conflict. It flows through places that people loathe. Thereby it is close to the Way.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/laozi-147_all-things_supreme-good-is-like-water-water-greatly_2549766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/laozi-147_all-things_supreme-good-is-like-water-water-greatly_2549766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/547/laozi-147_all-things_supreme-good-is-like-water-water-greatly_2549766.jpg) > “Supreme good is like water. Water greatly benefits all things, without conflict. It flows through places that people loathe. Thereby it is close 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. Supreme goodness mirrors water: it benefits all without force, moving through even despised places, aligning with the natural Way. **In simple terms:** Goodness is gentle and adaptable. Key Takeaway Adopt humility and flexibility. Themes humility adaptability philosophy nature Mood calm thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - conflict resolution - environmental stewardship - personal development Key Concepts Taoism ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - How can you be like water? - When does flexibility become weakness? A Different Perspective Water can be destructive if misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Like Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-water/) [Loathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loathe/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Supreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme/) [Supreme Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-good-574085/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Water Greatly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-greatly-1510071/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“The highest goodness resembles water Water greatly benefits myriad things without contention It stays in places that people dislike Therefore it is similar to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-highest-goodness-resembles-water-water-greatly-benefits-myriad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What people loathe the most is to be orphaned, desolate, unworthy. 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Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/highest-good-is-like-water-because-water-excels-in-benefiting-the/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [In its broadest term, religion says that there is an unseen order, and that our supreme good lies in rightful relations to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/in-its-broadest-term-religion-says-that-there-is-an-unseen-order-and/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [In religion above all things the only thing of use is an objective truth. The only God that is of use is a being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-religion-above-all-things-the-only-thing-of-use-is-an-objective/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“At the end of the eighteenth century the British philosopher Jeremy Bentham declared that the supreme good is ‘the greatest happiness of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/at-the-end-of-the-eighteenth-century-the-british-philosopher-jeremy/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [There is a difference between happiness, the supreme good, and the final end or goal toward which our actions ought to tend. For happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/there-is-a-difference-between-happiness-the-supreme-good-and-the/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [The supreme good of life is vitality. And vitality is always seeping away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-unger/the-supreme-good-of-life-is-vitality-and-vitality-is-always-seeping/) [Roberto Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-unger/) > [The science that studies the supreme good for man is politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-science-that-studies-the-supreme-good-for-man-is-politics/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Since happiness is nothing else than the enjoyment of the Supreme Good, and the Supreme Good is above us, no one can enjoy happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bonaventure/since-happiness-is-nothing-else-than-the-enjoyment-of-the-supreme/) [Saint Bonaventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bonaventure/) ## 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. 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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 All things quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. 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