Be a cautious sinner
Avoid surprises
Keep yourself together, like a newborn child
Nervelessly avoid sharp edges, no matter how alarming
Lose touch
Become neither wise nor clever, only to wear the outer shell
Seize no resources, nothing is exhausted
Act like a warrior, but yet one that receives no acclaim
Reverse turn, if you want to be right
These are some examples of the insufficiency of action.
other readings further drafts from the same generation
deeper strata where the meaning thins
the original
1. (It is the way of the Tao) to act without (thinking of) acting;
to conduct affairs without (feeling the) 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.
2. (The master of it) anticipates things that are difficult while they
are easy, and does things that would become great while they are
small. All difficult things in the world are sure to arise from a
previous state in which they were easy, and all great things from one
in which they were small. Therefore the sage, while he never does
what is great, is able on that account to accomplish the greatest
things.
3. He who lightly promises is sure to keep but little faith; he who is
continually thinking things easy is sure to find them difficult.
Therefore the sage sees difficulty even in what seems easy, and so
never has any difficulties.