Great virtue is like water.
This comes from Dao De Jing (Classic of the Way and Virtue), also known as Lao Zi (The Book of Lao Zi). It means that the greatest virtue is like water, nurturing all things without competing with them.
Lao Zi (dates unknown), or Li Er, a thinker of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and the founder of philosophical Daoism, used this simile to advocate that a virtuous ruler should govern with the gentle and accommodating qualities displayed by water. He should assist and provide for people just as water does, rather than competing with them for resources. Later this term came to mean that one should act as water does in nourishing all things and do one's best to help others without seeking fame or profit. It also implies virtues such as endurance and modesty.
Addressing the welcome dinner of the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing in November 2014, Xi Jinping said: Over 2,000 years ago, Chinese philosopher Lao Zi noted that "The great virtue is like water, which benefits all of creation without trying to compete with them." True, water nourishes all things under heaven. We, APEC member economies, are brought together by the water of the Pacific Ocean. We have a shared responsibility to make the Pacific an ocean of peace, friendship and cooperation, an ocean that brings harmony, development, prosperity and progress to the Asia-Pacific region.
上善若水
“上善若水”语出《道德经》，意指至高的善德善举就如同水的品性，默默滋养世间万物而不争强斗胜。老子以水的柔弱之性比喻至善的执政者应有的品德。执政者面对百姓，应该像水之于万物，辅助、成就百姓而不与其相争，后多指为人处事时能像水一样滋润万物，尽己所能帮助他人却从不争名逐利，或者具有坚忍负重、谦卑居下的品格。
2014年11月，习近平在亚太经合组织工商领导人峰会欢迎宴会上指出，2000多年前，老子说：“上善若水，水利万物而不争”，意思就是说最高境界的善行就像水一样涓涓细流，泽被万物。亚太经合组织以太平洋之水结缘，我们有责任使太平洋成为太平之洋，友谊之洋，合作之洋，见证亚太地区和平、发展、繁荣、进步。
