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Tao Te Ching · 73 of 81

Chapter 73

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.

Asked of Guide

Why does Lao Tzu say Heaven’s net is wide but lets nothing escape?

Lao Tzu says Heaven operates without force: it “does not strive, and yet it skilfully overcomes,” and its action is quiet yet effective. The image of a net with large meshes describes a system that avoids micromanagement but still accomplishes total, inevitable consequence.

That means consequence arrives through subtle, overarching order rather than immediate punishment for every misdeed; the text raises the puzzle of divine justice when bold wrong sometimes seems to prosper. Read alongside Chuang Tzu 74, which also questions fear of death and visible retribution, and you get a shared Taoist insistence on hidden, comprehensive balance.

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Echoes elsewhere

Chuang Tzu · Taoism74. 1. The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to) frighten them with death? If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wr Moral Letters to Lucilius · Stoicismover one who lives, rather than reflect that she has no power over one who knows how to die? 8. There are times, nevertheless, when a man, even though certain death impends and he Broken Bread, from an Evangelist's Wallet · Christianitya power of destruction which may be called into action any moment. Look, then, at God’s Woodman. It is his duty to remove the trees when the time comes. Mark you, he does not cut a