Chapter 73

Original Text

勇於敢則殺。勇於不敢則活。此兩者或利或害。天之所惡。孰知其故。是以聖人猶難之。天之道不爭而善勝。不言而善應。不召而自來。繟然而善謀。天網恢恢。疏而不失。

Translation

Courage in daring leads to killing. Courage in not-daring leads to life. Of these two, one brings benefit, the other harm. What Heaven abhors -- who knows the reason? Even the Sage finds this difficult. The Dao of Heaven does not contend, yet excels at overcoming; does not speak, yet excels at responding; does not summon, yet all things come of their own accord; is unhurried, yet excels at planning. The net of Heaven is vast, vast -- its mesh is wide, yet nothing slips through.

Word Notes

• 繟 — "unhurried": Relaxed, slow.
• 恢 — "vast": Immense, great.
• 疏 — "wide [mesh]": Sparse, loose.

Chapter Explanation

One who is courageous in rashness and the desire to prevail kills others. One who is courageous in not-daring, abiding in softness and lowliness, gives life to others. Of these two, one benefits people and the other harms people — this much people can know. But what Heaven abhors — the courageous who kill — who knows the reason for it? Even the Sage treats courage and daring as something difficult.

The Dao of Heaven does not contend with people, yet it excels at overcoming. It does not speak, yet there is a response that follows naturally. It does not need to summon, for things come of their own accord. Though exceedingly unhurried, it excels at planning. The net of Heaven is vast and immense; though its mesh is exceedingly wide, nothing is ever lost.

Discourse

The power of life and death is the great prerogative of Heaven. The Sage embodies Heaven and carries out Dao; his rewards and punishments are utterly impartial. This is to act as Heaven's agent in giving life and dealing death.

But if instead one kills to fatten oneself and harms others to benefit oneself, then when Heaven would give life, man goes ahead and kills. How could Heaven not find this utterly abhorrent?

Those who dare to kill surely believe that "the strong devour the weak" is a public law of natural evolution. And they think Heaven, being without sound or scent, is incapable of reward or punishment. They do not realize that though Heaven does not speak, retribution comes naturally. Its retribution may seem lenient, but in truth it is utterly rigorous — not a hair's breadth is out of place. No one has the power to escape it.

For the Dao of Heaven is the natural order. All the natural consequences that arise in human affairs are the workings of the Dao of Heaven. No one makes it so, yet it is as if someone does.

The rewards and punishments of Heaven being so rigorous — what need is there for men to be so eager to kill?