--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best people are like water, which…" description: "\"The best people are like water, which benefits all things and does not compete with them. It stays in lowly places that others reject. This is why it i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/laozi-147_all-things_the-best-people-are-like-water-which-ben_1780350.jpg" --- # The best people are like water, which benefits all things… ![“The best people are like water, which benefits all things and does not compete with them. It stays in lowly places that others reject. This is why it is so similar to the Way.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/laozi-147_all-things_the-best-people-are-like-water-which-ben_1780350.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/laozi-147_all-things_the-best-people-are-like-water-which-ben_1780350.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/laozi-147_all-things_the-best-people-are-like-water-which-ben_1780350.jpg) > “The best people are like water, which benefits all things and does not compete with them. It stays in lowly places that others reject. This is why it is so similar 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. Being adaptable and humble like water allows one to serve without conflict and find value in lowly places. **In simple terms:** Adaptability and humility bring value without competition. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and serve quietly. Themes humility adaptability service Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - teamwork - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts Taoist philosophy non‑competition Questions to Reflect On - How can you serve without losing self? - When does humility become self‑neglect? A Different Perspective Being self‑effacing can limit personal ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Water benefits the ten thousand things and does not oppose them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/water-benefits-the-ten-thousand-things-and-does-not-oppose-them/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ewing/success-has-a-simple-formula-do-your-best-and-people-may-like-it/) [Sam Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ewing/) > [Somebody's got to tell all the people to be like the water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/somebody-s-got-to-tell-all-the-people-to-be-like-the-water/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [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/) > [Highest good is like water. 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/) > [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/) > [A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/a-good-traveler-has-no-fixed-plans-and-is-not-intent-upon-arriving-a/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The wise man doesn't compete; therefore nobody can compete with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-wise-man-doesn-t-compete-therefore-nobody-can-compete-with-him/) [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/) > [“We made love like water makes life, and thinking about it makes me so horny I’m thirsty. My cup runneth over, but if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-made-love-like-water-makes-life-and-thinking-about-it-makes-me-so/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I need you like water, like breath, like rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-need-you-like-water-like-breath-like-rain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your personality is like a water bubble. Not arrogance mortal body,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/your-personality-is-like-a-water-bubble-not-arrogance-mortal-body/) Mak\_786 > [“I am like glass to him, like water, Hannah thought to herself, alone now in the music room, heart racing. He sees through me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lasky/i-am-like-glass-to-him-like-water-hannah-thought-to-herself-alone-now/) [Kathryn Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lasky/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. 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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? 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