Chapter 73 · Heaven's Wide, Unfailing Net

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

Learn the Dao: a quiet practice for learning the thing that can’t be known.

The chapter’s first line

He whose boldness appears in his daring (to do wrong,

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This chapter in plain modern English — David Kooi’s rendering ↓

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.

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Its demonstrations are quiet and yet its — missed plans are skilful and effective

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Chapter 73, in a second rendering

The Net Is Huge, Nothing Slips Through

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

Brave and reckless gets you killed. Brave and careful keeps you alive. One of those helps and one hurts - and good luck saying for certain why the sky leans the way it does. Even the people who get it find that part hard. The sky's way: doesn't compete and still wins, doesn't talk and still answers, doesn't send for anything and it shows up anyway, looks totally unhurried and still has the whole thing planned out. The net is huge. The mesh is wide and loose. And nothing slips through.

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