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Big Is Small at First

"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."

Author

Lao Tzu

All Translations

English

"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."

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