Chapter 63 offers timeless insights for leadership (wu wei or non-action governance), conflict resolution (gradual de-escalation), and personal growth (the power of incremental progress).
(It is the way of the Dao) 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.
Wu Wei (Non-Action)
Refers to aligning with natural patterns rather than forceful intervention. For example, governing by simplicity and humility allows harmony to emerge spontaneously.
At the same time, wu wei (non-action) also refers to human actions that are instinctive, intuitive, and spontaneous—actions that arise naturally without deliberate calculation or forced reasoning. It stands in contrast to conscious overthinking or rigid intellectual analysis.
Taste without flavor
Metaphor for embracing simplicity and the essence of existence, stripping away artificial desires.
Treat the small as large, the few as many
Laozi dismantles dualities (e.g., big/small, easy/hard), emphasizing their interdependence: greatness arises from small beginnings, and complexity resolves through simplicity.
Solving problems through subtlety
Tackle difficulties while they are still easy; achieve greatness through small steps.
True mastery lies in patience and attention to detail. The world’s hardest tasks begin with the easy; the grandest endeavors start with the trivial
Overconfidence and broken promises
Those who make light promises lack credibility; underestimating challenges multiplies hardships.
A leader’s empty vows erode trust. Similarly, dismissing obstacles as “easy” invites failure. The sage “treats all tasks as difficult, thus overcoming them.
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