Chapter 63 of Laozi's Tao Te Ching presents a practical guide based on the principles of the Tao (道). It explains the way of life of Wu Wei (無為) through three paradoxical phrases: 'Act without action (為無為),' 'handle affairs without interference (事無事),' and 'taste without flavor (味無味).' It also emphasizes the law of change in things—namely, that 'great things begin from the small' and 'difficulties arise from what is easy.' It states that a person who follows the Tao understands this natural order, deals with difficulties through the way of Wu Wei, and thus truly accomplishes great things. This is an important chapter that argues for abandoning artificial effort and attachment, showing how all things are naturally accomplished as a result.
📖 Table of Contents
- ✨ Introduction
- 📜 Original Text (原文)
- 📃 Meaning of the Original Text
- 🌲 Line-by-Line Translation
- 💧 Verse-by-Verse Commentary and Interpretation
- 為無為 事無事 味無味 (wéi wú wéi, shì wú shì, wèi wú wèi)
- 大小多少 (dà xiǎo, duō shǎo)
- 報怨以德 (bào yuàn yǐ dé)
- 圖難於其易 為大於其細 (tú nán yū qí yì, wéi dà yū qí xì)
- 天下難事 必作於易 天下大事 必作於細 (tiān xià nán shì, bì zuò yū yì; tiān xià dà shì, bì zuò yū xì)
- 是以聖人終不為大 故能成其大 (shì yǐ shèng rén zhōng bù wéi dà, gù néng chéng qí dà)
- 夫輕諾必寡信 多易必多難 (fū qīng nuò bì guǎ xìn, duō yì bì duō nán)
- 是以聖人猶難之 故終無難矣 (shì yǐ shèng rén yóu nán zhī, gù zhōng wú nán yǐ)
- 🌳 Overall Interpretation
- 🌟 The Meaning and Importance of Chapter 63
📜 Original Text (原文)
為無為
事無事
味無味
大小多少
報怨以德
圖難於其易
為大於其細
天下難事 必作於易
天下大事 必作於細
是以聖人終不為大
故能成其大
夫輕諾必寡信
多易必多難
是以聖人猶難之
故終無難矣
📃 Meaning of the Original Text
Act through non-action.
Manage affairs through non-interference.
Taste through non-flavor.
Treat the great and the small, the many and the few, alike.
Repay resentment with virtue.
Plan for the difficult while it is easy.
Act on the great while it is small.
The difficult things in the world must begin from what is easy.
The great things in the world must begin from what is small.
Therefore, the sage never attempts to do what is great.
And so is able to accomplish greatness.
He who makes promises lightly is sure to have little credibility.
He who sees many things as easy is sure to encounter many difficulties.
Therefore, the sage treats even the easy as difficult.
And so, in the end, has no difficulties.
🌲 Line-by-Line Translation
為無為 事無事 味無味 (wéi wú wéi, shì wú shì, wèi wú wèi)
Act through non-action, manage affairs through non-interference, taste through non-flavor.
大小多少 (dà xiǎo, duō shǎo)
Treat the great and the small, the many and the few, alike.
報怨以德 (bào yuàn yǐ dé)
Repay resentment with virtue.
圖難於其易 為大於其細 (tú nán yū qí yì, wéi dà yū qí xì)
Plan for the difficult while it is easy, act on the great while it is small.
天下難事 必作於易 天下大事 必作於細 (tiān xià nán shì, bì zuò yū yì; tiān xià dà shì, bì zuò yū xì)
The difficult things in the world must begin from what is easy; the great things in the world must begin from what is small.
是以聖人終不為大 故能成其大 (shì yǐ shèng rén zhōng bù wéi dà, gù néng chéng qí dà)
Therefore, the sage never attempts to do what is great, and so is able to accomplish greatness.
夫輕諾必寡信 多易必多難 (fū qīng nuò bì guǎ xìn, duō yì bì duō nán)
He who makes promises lightly is sure to have little credibility; he who sees many things as easy is sure to encounter many difficulties.
是以聖人猶難之 故終無難矣 (shì yǐ shèng rén yóu nán zhī, gù zhōng wú nán yǐ)
Therefore, the sage treats even the easy as difficult, and so, in the end, has no difficulties.
💧 Verse-by-Verse Commentary and Interpretation (逐句解說與解釋)
1. 為無為 事無事 味無味 (wéi wú wéi, shì wú shì, wèi wú wèi)
o Literal Meaning: Act non-action, manage non-affairs, taste non-flavor.
o Commentary: This explains the core practical principle of Taoism, 'Wu Wei' (無為), in three paradoxical ways.
- 為無為 (wéi wú wéi): 'To act (為) in a state of non-action (無為).' It means to act naturally in accordance with the flow of nature, without artificial effort or a sense of purpose.
- 事無事 (shì wú shì): 'To handle affairs (事) in a state of no-affairs (無事).' It means to minimize interference and avoid creating complex plans or problems, thus preventing issues from arising.
- 味無味 (wèi wú wèi): 'To taste (味) in a state of no-flavor (無味).' It means to enjoy the simple, unadorned, true taste—the plain truth of the Tao—rather than pursuing stimulating flavors or desires.
o Interpretation: A life that follows the Tao involves ceasing artificial effort and interference, abandoning stimulating desires, and pursuing a state of naturalness and simplicity. This paradoxically constitutes true action (為), true management (事), and true tasting (味).
2. 大小多少 (dà xiǎo, duō shǎo)
o Literal Meaning: Great or small, many or few.
o Commentary: This phrase comprehensively describes the quantitative and qualitative states of all things and phenomena in the world. It connects to the subsequent lines about how to deal with these states.
o Interpretation: It suggests that one must apply the principles of the Tao when dealing with all opposing states in the world, such as great and small, many and few.
3. 報怨以德 (bào yuàn yǐ dé)
o Literal Meaning: Repay resentment with virtue.
o Commentary: '報怨' (bào yuàn) is to repay a grudge or to take revenge. '以德' (yǐ dé) is 'by means of (以) virtue (德).' Here, '德' (Dé) refers to the natural inclusiveness, compassion, and tolerance that arise from the Tao.
o Interpretation: This states that one should not respond with revenge to those who have caused harm or resentment, but rather with the 'virtue' of inclusiveness and tolerance, in accordance with the principles of the Tao. This Taoist approach contrasts with the Confucian idea of repaying with 'uprightness' (直).
4. 圖難於其易 為大於其細 (tú nán yū qí yì, wéi dà yū qí xì)
o Literal Meaning: Plan for the difficult in its easy stage; act on the great in its small stage.
o Commentary: This is Taoist wisdom on how to solve problems and achieve goals. '圖難於其易' (tú nán yū qí yì) means 'to plan for/handle (圖) the difficult (難) while it is in (於) its (其) easy (易) stage.' '為大於其細' (wéi dà yū qí xì) means 'to do/accomplish (為) the great (大) while it is in (於) its (其) small (細) stage.'
o Interpretation: It emphasizes that difficult problems or great tasks must be dealt with and prepared for in their initial stages, when they are still small and easy. This is practical wisdom, suggesting that trying to solve problems after they have grown large and difficult is too late. It is about understanding and applying the natural principle that all great results originate from small causes.
5. 天下難事 必作於易 天下大事 必作於細 (tiān xià nán shì, bì zuò yū yì; tiān xià dà shì, bì zuò yū xì)
o Literal Meaning: The difficult things in the world must begin from what is easy; the great things in the world must begin from what is small.
o Commentary: This is the natural law that provides the basis for the previous line. '天下難事' (tiān xià nán shì) is 'the difficult affairs in the world.' '必作於易' (bì zuò yū yì) is 'must (必) begin from/arise in (作於) the easy stage.' '天下大事' (tiān xià dà shì) is 'the great affairs in the world.' '必作於細' (bì zuò yū xì) is 'must (必) begin from/arise in (作於) the small stage.'
o Interpretation: This explains a fundamental principle of natural change: all difficult or great things in the world do not appear in a difficult or great state from the outset, but invariably begin from a small and easy stage. This emphasizes the Taoist concepts of the 'importance of the small' and 'observing subtle signs.'
6. 是以聖人終不為大 故能成其大 (shì yǐ shèng rén zhōng bù wéi dà, gù néng chéng qí dà)
o Literal Meaning: Therefore, the sage never attempts to do what is great, and so is able to accomplish greatness.
o Commentary: '是以' (shì yǐ) means 'for this reason,' because one knows the principle that all great things start small. '聖人終不為大' (shèng rén zhōng bù wéi dà) means 'the sage (聖人) in the end (終) does not attempt to do (不為) what is great (大).' '為大' (wéi dà) here means to artificially set grand goals and strive to achieve them. '故能成其大' (gù néng chéng qí dà) means 'therefore (故) is able to (能) accomplish (成) his (其) greatness (大).'
o Interpretation: Because the sage knows that all great things begin from small things, he does not artificially set grand goals or force great undertakings. Instead, he conforms to the natural flow, starts with the small, and resolves difficulties when they are minor, acting in the way of Wu Wei. Paradoxically, this attitude allows him to naturally achieve the greatest results. This once again illustrates the paradox of Wu Wei: 'accomplishing by not doing.'
7. 夫輕諾必寡信 多易必多難 (fū qīng nuò bì guǎ xìn, duō yì bì duō nán)
o Literal Meaning: He who makes promises lightly is sure to have little credibility; he who sees many things as easy is sure to encounter many difficulties.
o Commentary: This offers two didactic analogies. '夫' (fū) is a particle. '輕諾必寡信' (qīng nuò bì guǎ xìn) means 'a light promise (輕諾) surely (必) has little credibility (寡信).' '多易必多難' (duō yì bì duō nán) means 'to regard many things as easy (多易) surely (必) leads to many difficulties (多難).'
o Interpretation: Just as making promises lightly fails to earn trust, treating matters without due caution and regarding them as easy will inevitably lead to difficulties. This warns against the dangers of artificial arrogance and carelessness, implying the importance of a cautious and humble attitude.
8. 是以聖人猶難之 故終無難矣 (shì yǐ shèng rén yóu nán zhī, gù zhōng wú nán yǐ)
o Literal Meaning: Therefore, the sage treats even the easy as difficult. And so, in the end, has no difficulties.
o Commentary: '是以' (shì yǐ) is 'for this reason,' based on the lesson about the dangers of carelessness. '聖人猶難之' (shèng rén yóu nán zhī) means 'the sage, on the contrary (猶), treats it (之, the easy thing, the small thing) as difficult (難).' '故終無難矣' (gù zhōng wú nán yǐ) means 'therefore (故) in the end (終) has no (無) difficulties (難).'
o Interpretation: Because the sage understands that all great and difficult things start from small beginnings and that an easy-going attitude invites difficulty, he never treats even minor or seemingly easy matters lightly but always with caution. Paradoxically, due to this prudence, he ultimately encounters no great difficulties. This is a Taoist paradox: overcoming difficulty not by 'not seeing difficulty as difficult,' but by 'seeing the easy as difficult.'
🌳 Overall Interpretation
The sixty-third chapter offers the Tao's guidance on how we should live and solve problems.
A life that follows the Tao is about 'acting naturally without forced effort (為無為),' 'handling affairs without interference or creating complex problems (事無事),' and 'tasting the simple essence rather than stimulating flavors or desires (味無味).'
The world presents all kinds of opposing situations, whether great or small, many or few. When we are faced with resentment from others, we should not seek revenge, but rather repay it with the 'virtue of inclusiveness and tolerance' that comes from the Tao.
When it comes to solving problems and achieving goals, one must 'plan for a difficult task while it is still easy' and **'begin a great undertaking while it is still small.'** This is because all difficult things in the world must 'begin when they are still easy,' and all great things must 'begin when they are still small.'
Because they understand this principle, the sage who follows the Tao does not artificially 'set grand goals or force great undertakings.' Therefore, he is naturally able to 'achieve the greatest results.' This is the Tao's paradox of 'accomplishing everything by doing nothing.'
There is an important lesson we must learn in life: 'making promises lightly will surely lead to little trust,' and 'treating many things as easy or trivial will surely lead to many difficulties.'
Because they know this danger, the sage who follows the Tao, on the contrary, 'treats even minor or seemingly easy matters as difficult and acts with caution.' Therefore, in the end, he 'encounters no great difficulties.'
🌟 The Meaning and Importance of Chapter 63
Chapter 63 presents the following core ideas:
- Three Aspects of Wu Wei (無為): Through the paradoxical expressions of 'wéi wú wéi, shì wú shì, wèi wú wèi,' it specifies the core of the Taoist life: abandoning artificial effort, interference, and desire.
- Repaying Resentment with Virtue (報怨以德): It shows the Taoist approach to conduct and ethics, repaying resentment with virtue instead of revenge.
- The Importance of the Small and Easy: It emphasizes the natural principle of change that all great and difficult things begin from what is small and easy, suggesting the importance of preemptive action before problems grow.
- The Attitude of the Sage: The sage does not artificially strive for greatness (不為大) and treats even easy tasks with caution (猶難之). Paradoxically, this allows him to achieve the greatest results and experience no difficulties. The principle of 'accomplishing everything by doing nothing (無為而無不為)' is re-emphasized.
- The Danger of Taking Things Lightly: It warns that making promises lightly and having a careless attitude lead to mistrust and difficulty, highlighting the virtues of prudence and humility.
Chapter 63 is an important chapter that explains the core practical principle of the Tao Te Ching, Wu Wei, from various angles and provides concrete guidance on how to apply the wisdom of the Tao to daily life and problem-solving. It contains the profound wisdom that true accomplishment and peace can be found by letting go of artificial effort and attachment, following the natural order, and starting cautiously from the small things.
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