Chapter 8. The inexpensive nature
Greatest virtue is like water.
Water is good for everything.
It can pass through to even the most unreachable places effortlessly.
That is why it is like the Tao.
It is virtuous like the heart by being deep.
By exposing itself it has the virtue of love.
It is virtuous like speech being trustworthy.
It is virtuous like like the government cleaning and arranging.
It is virtuous like a servant in his ability.
It is virtuous, like action, by always arriving at the right moment.
And because it does not compete, it does not have enemies.
Own translation from 1925 Finnish translation by Pekka Ervast (ISBN 951-8995-01-X) with kind permission of Ruusu-Ristin Kirjallisuusseura ry.