Chapter 63
Act Without Acting
Original
为无为，事无事，味无味。大小多少，报怨以德。
图难于其易，为大于其细。天下难事必作于易，天下大事必作于细。
是以圣人终不为大，故能成其大。夫轻诺必寡信，多易必多难。是以圣人犹难之，故终无难矣。
图难于其易，为大于其细。天下难事必作于易，天下大事必作于细。
是以圣人终不为大，故能成其大。夫轻诺必寡信，多易必多难。是以圣人犹难之，故终无难矣。
Translation
Act without acting, work without doing, taste without tasting. Make the small great and the few many. Requite hatred with virtue. Plan for the difficult while it is easy, do the great while it is small. The world's difficult tasks arise from easy ones, the world's great tasks arise from small ones. Therefore, the sage never strives for greatness, and thus can achieve greatness. Light promises breed little trust, much ease leads to much difficulty. Therefore, the sage treats everything as difficult, and thus never encounters difficulty.
Deep Reflection
What is this chapter about?
This chapter advocates effortless action by starting small and staying grounded. By attending to the simple, we prevent problems from becoming big; by not forcing outcomes, we naturally accomplish great things.
How does it relate to me?
I often rush into big goals, feeling overwhelmed. This is a call to break tasks into tiny steps and approach them with calm, non-striving attention—turning difficulty into ease.
What should I do today?
I will pick one task that feels daunting today, break it into three tiny steps, and do the first step with full presence, not worrying about the whole.
Related Chapters
My Reflection
What does this chapter inspire in you? How will you apply it?