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Section 66

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江海之所以能为百谷王者，
Jiāng hǎi zhī suǒ yǐ néng wèi bǎi gǔ wáng zhě,
 The sea is king of a hundred streams,
以其善下之，
yǐ qí shàn xià zhī,
 because it stays lower than them.
故能为百谷王。
gù néng wèi bǎi gǔ wáng.
 Thus it becomes their monarch.
是以圣人欲上民，
Shì yǐ shèngrén yù shàng mín,
 If a sage wants to lift the people,
必以言下之；
bì yǐ yán xià zhī;
 he must speak humbly.
欲先民，
yù xiān mín,
 If he wants to lead the people,
必以身后之。
bì yǐ shēn hòu zhī.
 he must follow behind.
是以圣人处上而民不重，
Shì yǐ shèngrén chǔ shàng ér mín bù zhòng,
 In this way, when the sage is above the people, they are not burdened;
处前而民不害。
chǔ qián ér mín bù hài.
 when he stands in front, they are not harmed.
是以天下乐推而不厌。
Shì yǐ tiānxià lè tuī ér bù yàn.
 The whole world supports him joyfully and without weariness.
以其不争，
Yǐ qí bù zhēng,
 Because he does not compete,
故天下莫能与之争。
gù tiānxià mò néng yǔ zhī zhēng.
 no one in the world can compete with him.