Daoist scholars divided governance by rulers into two categories: action and non-action. Here action generally means that rulers impose their will on others or the world with no respect for the intrinsic nature of things or without following such nature. This will undermine the natural state, leading to the breakdown of order. Daoist scholars therefore advocated non-action to overcome the defect of action. Scholars of Confucianism and other schools of thought, however, favored action taken by rulers as necessary. The term also refers to action a person takes to achieve success.

The people are hard to govern because the ruler takes action. (Laozi）

The ruler who wishes to take action is sure to have high officials who do not obey his order. So if the ruler wishes to adopt a plan, he must go and talk to them. Without integrity and such virtue, it’s impossible for anyone to work with him. (Mencius)