Back to book page: Tao Te Ching

Chapter 63.

Reading settings

Text size

20
Line spacing
Column width
Typeface
Theme

Contents

Keyboard shortcuts

  • ← / →previous or next chapter
  • j / kscroll down or up
  • bbookmark this place
  • fturn focus mode on or off
  • ?show this list

Quote card

Preparing the card…

Tao Te Ching

Chapter 63.

Chapter 63 of 811 min

1. (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.

2. (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.

3. 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.

End of chapter