1. 为无为，事无事，味无味。大小多少，报怨以德。图难于其易，为大于其细；天下难事，必作于易，天下大事，必作于细。是以圣人终不为大，故能成其大。夫轻诺必寡信，多易必多难。是以圣人犹难之，故终无难矣。
It is the way of the Tao to act without acting; to conduct affairs without 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.