--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reason why rivers and seas are able…" description: "\"The reason why rivers and seas are able to be lords over a hundred mountain streams, is that they know how to keep below them. That is why they are abl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/laozi-147_able_the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able_3175646.jpg" --- # The reason why rivers and seas are able to be lords over a… ![“The reason why rivers and seas are able to be lords over a hundred mountain streams, is that they know how to keep below them. That is why they are able to reign over all the mountain streams.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/laozi-147_able_the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able_3175646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/laozi-147_able_the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able_3175646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/laozi-147_able_the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able_3175646.jpg) > “The reason why rivers and seas are able to be lords over a hundred mountain streams, is that they know how to keep below them. That is why they are able to reign over all the mountain streams.” [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. Rivers dominate mountains by staying humble and allowing them to flow beneath, illustrating power through modesty. **In simple terms:** Power comes from humility. Key Takeaway Practice humility to lead effectively. Themes humility leadership natural order Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - management - conflict resolution Key Concepts Taoist philosophy power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you lead without dominating? - When does humility become a disadvantage? A Different Perspective Humility may be misinterpreted as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Lords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lords/) [Lords Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lords-mountain-5797553/) [Lowliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lowliness/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Mountain streams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain-streams/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-why/) [Reign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reign/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Streams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streams/) [Streams Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streams-know-372949/) ## Related quotes > [It's not about what hits Billboard or how many views you got on a video. It's about copies sold. It's about streams, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trippie-redd/it-s-not-about-what-hits-billboard-or-how-many-views-you-got-on-a/) [Trippie Redd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trippie-redd/) > [Thus it is that "Some things are increased by being diminished, others are diminished by being increased." What others have taught, I also teach;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/thus-it-is-that-some-things-are-increased-by-being-diminished-others/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Therefore, if a great kingdom humbles itself before a small kingdom, it shall make that small kingdom its prize. And if a small kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/therefore-if-a-great-kingdom-humbles-itself-before-a-small-kingdom-it/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [But in the present day men cast off gentleness, and are all for being bold; they spurn frugality, and retain only extravagance; they discard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/but-in-the-present-day-men-cast-off-gentleness-and-are-all-for-being/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Goodness strives not, and therefore it is not rebuked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/goodness-strives-not-and-therefore-it-is-not-rebuked/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Therefore the Sage embraces Unity, and is a model for all under Heaven. He is free from self-display, therefore he shines forth; from self-assertion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/therefore-the-sage-embraces-unity-and-is-a-model-for-all-under-heaven/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The best soldiers are not warlike; the best fighters do not lose their temper. The greatest conquerors are those who overcome their enemies without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-best-soldiers-are-not-warlike-the-best-fighters-do-not-lose-their/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Therefore the Sage, wishing to be above the people, must by his words put himself below them; wishing to be before the people, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/therefore-the-sage-wishing-to-be-above-the-people-must-by-his-words/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He who, conscious of being strong, is content to be weak, he shall be the paragon of mankind. Being the paragon of mankind, Virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-who-conscious-of-being-strong-is-content-to-be-weak-he-shall-be/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Gentleness brings victory to him who attacks, and safety to him who defends. Those whom Heaven would save, it fences round with gentleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/gentleness-brings-victory-to-him-who-attacks-and-safety-to-him-who/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He who is great must make humility his base. He who is high must make lowliness his foundation. Thus, princes and kings in speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-who-is-great-must-make-humility-his-base-he-who-is-high-must-make/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What makes a kingdom great is its being like a down-flowing river,--the central point towards which all the smaller streams under Heaven converge; or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-makes-a-kingdom-great-is-its-being-like-a-down-flowing-river-the/) [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 Sage expects no recognition for what he does; he achieves merit but does not take it to himself; he does not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-sage-expects-no-recognition-for-what-he-does-he-achieves-merit/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [A genuine passion is like a mountain stream; it admits of no impediment; it cannot go backward; it must go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/a-genuine-passion-is-like-a-mountain-stream-it-admits-of-no/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) ## 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 Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reason why rivers and seas are able to be lords over a hundred mountain streams, is that they know how to keep below them. That is why they are able to reign over all the mountain streams.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able-to-be-lords-over-a-hundred/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able-to-be-lords-over-a-hundred/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/laozi-147_able_the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able_3175646.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/laozi-147_able_the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able_3175646.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/717/laozi-147_able_the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able_3175646.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The reason why rivers and seas are able to be lords over a hundred mountain streams, is that they know how…” — 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": "The reason why rivers and seas...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able-to-be-lords-over-a-hundred/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-reason-why-rivers-and-seas-are-able-to-be-lords-over-a-hundred/#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 } } ] } ```