Famous source:
"Good as water" comes from the eighth chapter of Laozi's Tao Te Ching: "Good as water. Water is the good of all things, and water is the evil of all, so it is a few words. " The whole sentence means: the best character and noble sentiment should be like water. Water nourishes and benefits all things, but it does not compete with the world; Water is always in a place where people don't want to be, so it has reached a beautiful state and conforms to the laws of nature.
The phrase "carrying things with virtue" comes from the Book of Changes. The original text is: "Heaven is healthy, and gentlemen are constantly striving for self-improvement. The terrain is Kun, and the gentleman carries things with morality. " It means: the earth carries everything with its breadth and depth, so it can benefit everything with good conduct. "A gentleman carries things by virtue" means that a gentleman should carry everything, tolerate everything, nourish everything and benefit everything with profound and good conduct, just like the earth.
Interpretation of famous sayings:
As a generalization of Chinese virtues, "goodness is like water, morality carries things" has always been the highest moral realm advocated by people with lofty ideals. Linking the two sentences, "goodness is like water, and virtue carries things" has a new choice between meaning and origin. The best character and the noblest sentiment should be like water, bearing everything, containing everything, nourishing everything and benefiting everything with a broad and profound mind and good character.