63: Big Is Small at First

63

Act without action.
Pursue without interfering.
Taste the tasteless.
Make the small big and the few many.
Return animosity with virtue.
Meet the difficult while it is easy.
Meet the big while it is small.
The most difficult in the world
Must be easy in its beginning.
The biggest in the world
Is small in its beginning.
So, the sage never strives for greatness,
And can therefore accomplish greatness.
Lightly given promises
Must meet with little trust.
Taking things lightly
Must lead to big difficulties.
So, the sage regards things as difficult,
And thereby avoids difficulty.

Big Is Small at First

We already know about non-action, wu-wei, and about the importance of avoiding to interfere, but what about tasting the tasteless...

Here is my full commentary on this Tao Te Ching chapter:
Tao Te Ching Chapter 63 Translation and Commentary