道德经 · 第73章

底本文字与中文阅读

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。

English support translation

He whose boldness appears in his daring (to do wrong, in
defiance of the laws) is put to death; he whose boldness appears in
his not daring (to do so) lives on. Of these two cases the one
appears to be advantageous, and the other to be injurious. But

When Heaven's anger smites a man,

Who the cause shall truly scan?

On this account the sage feels a difficulty (as to what to do in the
former case).

It is the way of Heaven not to strive, and yet it skilfully
overcomes; not to speak, and yet it is skilful in (obtaining a reply;
does not call, and yet men come to it of themselves. Its
demonstrations are quiet, and yet its plans are skilful and effective.
The meshes of the net of Heaven are large; far apart, but letting
nothing escape.