The grammar:And if men think the ground the best place for building a house upon

And if men think the ground the best place for building a house upon = And if among the places men choose the best place for building a house upon?


Context:
Chapter 8
The highest good is like that of water. The goodness of water is that it benefits the ten thousand creatures; yet itself does not scramble, but is content with the places that all men disdain. It is this that makes water so near to the Way.
And if men think the ground the best place for building a house upon,
If among thoughts they value those that are profound,
If in friendship they value gentleness,
In words, truth; in government, good order;
In deeds, effectiveness; in actions, timeliness-
In each case it is because they prefer what does not lead to strife,[1]
And therefore does not go amiss.

[1]Even ordinary people realize the importance of the Taoist principle of 'water-like' behaviour, i.e. not striving to get on top or to the fore.