Wu-wei has been variously translated by scholars into English as "inaction," "not forcing," and "doing nothing." Comparative philosopher Roger Ames describes the concept of wu-wei as "responding with an awareness that enables one to maximize the creative possibilities of himself in his environment."
— Philippe L. Gross, S. I. Shapiro, Roger Ames, The Tao of Photography by Philippe L. Gross, S. I. Shapiro