Tao Te Ching · Ch. 66

江海之所以能為百谷王者,以其善下之,故能為百谷王。是以聖人欲上民,必以言下之;欲先民,必以身後之。是以聖人處上而民不重,處前而民不害。是以天下樂推而不厭。以其不爭,故天下莫能與之爭。

Jiāng hǎi zhī suǒ yǐ néng wéi bǎi gǔ wáng zhě, yǐ qí shàn xià zhī, gù néng wéi bǎi gǔ wáng. Shì yǐ shèng rén yù shàng mín, bì yǐ yán xià zhī; Yù xiān mín, bì yǐ shēn hòu zhī. Shì yǐ shèng rén chǔ shàng ér mín bù zhòng, chǔ qián ér mín bù hài. Shì yǐ tiān xià lè tuī ér bù yàn. Yǐ qí bù zhēng, gù tiān xià mò néng yǔ zhī zhēng.

The reason rivers and seas are able to be kings of the hundred valleys is that they are skilled at placing themselves below — and so they become kings of the hundred valleys. Therefore when the sage would be above the people, he must in his speech place himself below them; and when he would go before the people, he must in his person put himself behind them. In this way, when the sage stands above, the people do not feel his weight; when he goes before, the people feel no harm. Therefore all under heaven gladly push him forward and never tire of him. Because he does not compete, no one under heaven can compete with him.

— Tao Te Ching 66

Source: Wang Bi edition (Chinese) + Hanyu Pinyin transliteration