古代契券制度規定，「執右契」者是債主，可向「執左契」的負債人責償。「執左契」一語所在《老子》章節，重在討論以「處下不爭」之道防怨于未然。老子之所以主張「執左契」，意在避免像債主那樣，因執右契索債而招致怨恨。左契卑下，正合於「處下不爭」之旨。「不爭」必不可能「責於人」，自然也就不會斂怨。由於文獻記載訛誤等原因，關於老子「執左契」的內涵，多有學者往老子為債權人的方向解釋，並用「生而弗有」「聖人無積」等思想加以彌合。但實際上，這既又不符合「執左契」所在章節的整體語境，也違背老子「卑弱以自持」的一貫主張。

According to the rules of ancient system of contracts, who holding Youqi (右契) is creditor, can dun the debtor who holding Zuoqi. Laozi’s opinion of holding Zuoqi (左契), attributed to holding Zuoqi conform to the thought of keeping a low profile, which is the way of taking precautions to avoid resentment. The academia misunderstanding to Laozi’s opinion of holding Zuoqi, against the thought of low profile of Laozi, also departing from the specific context of chapter 78 and 79 in Daodejing.