Do not act with action, because by following what already exists and proceeding according to precedent, nothing needs to be created or altered. Deal with affairs as if there were no affairs, anticipate and prepare in advance, thus eliminating troubles and reducing matters. Taste the tasteless. Think deeply and plan ahead, this is to savor the meaning of things. Great or small, much or little, this is to present warnings and commands. Desiring greatness leads to being small, desiring much leads to having less; this is the natural way. Repay resentment with virtue. Cultivate the Dao and perform good deeds, thus eliminating calamity before it arises. Plan for difficulties when they are still easy, if one wishes to deal with difficult matters, one should do so while they are still simple and before they have fully developed. Undertake great tasks by attending to the small details. If one wishes to accomplish great things, one must begin with small matters; calamities and disorder arise from neglect of the small. Difficult affairs in the world are always accomplished by starting with what is easy, and great affairs in the world are necessarily initiated through attention to details. From ease arises difficulty; from smallness arises prominence. Therefore, the sage never claims to be great, and thus is able to achieve greatness. By maintaining humility, all under heaven will come to him. He who makes light promises is sure to lack credibility, because his words are not valued. What seems too easy will inevitably lead to difficulty. This is due to neglecting potential dangers. Therefore, the sage still treats it as difficult, when the sage acts or undertakes a task, he still proceeds cautiously, treating it with gravity and difficulty, wishing to block its source. Thus, there will ultimately be no difficulty. The sage lives a life free from calamities and difficulties, as if avoiding harm with great care. ---