CHINESE 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
ENGLISH · JAMES LEGGE, 1891
(It is the way of the Tao) to act without (thinking of) acting; to conduct affairs without (feeling the) trouble of them; to taste without discerning any flavour; to consider what is small as great, and a few as many; and to recompense injury with kindness.
(The master of it) anticipates things that are difficult while they are easy, and does things that would become great while they are small. All difficult things in the world are sure to arise from a previous state in which they were easy, and all great things from one in which they were small. Therefore the sage, while he never does what is great, is able on that account to accomplish the greatest things.
He who lightly promises is sure to keep but little faith; he who is continually thinking things easy is sure to find them difficult. Therefore the sage sees difficulty even in what seems easy, and so never has any difficulties.
READ IN CONTEXT
Everyday living
Water, an empty bowl, a modest home. Ordinary images open questions about desire, sufficiency, generosity, and how to live with others.
Everyday living