Laozi
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，踈而不失。
James Legge
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.
Victor H. Mair
He who is brave in daring will be killed, He who is brave in not daring will survive. One of these two courses is beneficial, The other is harmful. Who knows the reason for heaven’s dislikes? The Way of heaven does not war yet is good at conquering, does not speak yet is good at answering, is not summoned yet comes of itself, is relaxed yet good at making plans. Heaven’s net is vast; Though its meshes are wide, nothing escapes.
C. Spurgeon Medhurst
The recklessly rash die. The cautiously courageous live. Of these two courses it is uncertain which is advantageous and which is disadvantageous, for who can explain why heaven disapproves? Therefore even the Holy Man feels a difficulty here. [^1] This is the way of heaven—
Goodwill, which surely overcomes.
Silence, which certainly responds. [^2]
Without being summoned, spontaneously arriving.
Acting leisurely, but planning effectively.
Heaven’s net spreads everywhere, wide in mesh, yet losing nothing. [^3]
“Merry and bright are the waves to-day, They dance round our boat like children at play; But though wild winds should rise and dark waters roar, Till our light bark be cast a wreck on the shore; Still the strength which awes us is not found here, But beneath where all is calm and clear; Where feeling the weight of the law’s behest, In the depths of the ocean is calm and rest.” (Vantia Bailey.)
[^1] The higher the knowledge, the greater the responsibility, the narrower the path.
[^2] “Look at heaven there,” answered Confucius, “does it speak? And yet the seasons run their appointed courses and all things in nature grow up in their time. Look at heaven there: does it speak?”—Confucian Analects.
[^3]
“Though the mills of God grind slowly Yet they grind exceeding small. Though with patience he stands waiting, With exactness grinds he all.” Friederich von Logau.—Longfellow’s translation.
”Und alles ist Frucht, and alles is Samen.”—Schiller.
Ursula K. Le Guin
Brave daring leads to death. Brave caution leads to life. The choice can be the right one or the wrong one.
Who will interpret the judgment of heaven? Even the wise soul finds it hard.
The way of heaven doesn’t compete yet wins handily, doesn’t speak yet answers fully, doesn’t summon yet attracts. It acts perfectly easily.
The net of heaven is vast, vast, wide-meshed, yet missing nothing.