The world turns softly
Not to spill its lakes and rivers,
The water is held in its read more

The world turns softly
Not to spill its lakes and rivers,
The water is held in its arms
And the sky is held in the water.
What is water,
That pours silver,
And can hold the sky?

Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet.

Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet.

If you wish to drown, do not torture yourself with shallow water.

If you wish to drown, do not torture yourself with shallow water.

Till taught by pain,
Men really know not what good water's worth;
If you had been in read more

Till taught by pain,
Men really know not what good water's worth;
If you had been in Turkey or in Spain,
Or with a famish'd boat's-crew had your berth,
Or in the desert heard the camel's bell,
You'd wish yourself where Truth is--in a well.

I have drunk deep of the waters of my ancestors.

I have drunk deep of the waters of my ancestors.

Pouring oil on troubled water.

Pouring oil on troubled water.

You could not step twice into the same rivers; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.

You could not step twice into the same rivers; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.

Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, read more

Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it. So the flexible overcome the adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful. Everyone knows this, but no one can do it.

The deeper the waters are, the more still they run.

The deeper the waters are, the more still they run.