Chapter 63. Looking ahead
To act without plan, to labor without pretense, finding great in what is small, and plentyfullness in scarcicity , by revenging evil with goodness, difficult things when they are easy, and by guiding great things when they are at their beginning – that is of the way of the Tao.
The beginnings of all difficult things are in ease and difficulty of great things is only in their beginning.
That is why a wise one can accomplish great things without even seemingly touching them.
Who lightly accepts, rarely keeps his word.
He who considers all things easy, he will have many troubles.
That is why a wise one keeps meticulous count of small things and thus he has no difficulties.
Own translation from 1925 Finnish translation by Pekka Ervast (ISBN 951-8995-01-X) with kind permission of Ruusu-Ristin Kirjallisuusseura ry.