Chapter 73
SEVENTY-THREE
Courage carried to recklessness leads to death, while courage restrained and cautious leads to life. Of these two kinds of courage, one is harmful and one is beneficial. Why this is so, why some things are rejected by Heaven and some not, who can tell the reason? Therefore the perfect Sage looks upon all things as puzzling (and does not interfere with any).
The TAO of Heaven never seeks supremacy, yet
it is always supreme. It speaks not but it is perfectly responsive. It issues no summons yet things come to it naturally. It appears to be open and simple, but hidden from view is a profound design. Indeed, the meshes of Heaven's net are wide, but no matter how wide or loose they may appear nothing escapes.