Tao Te Ching – Verse 73
The Tao is always at ease.
It overcomes without competing,
answers without speaking a word,
arrives without being summoned,
accomplishes without a plan.
Its net covers the whole universe.
And though its meshes are wide,
it doesn’t let a thing slip through.
(translation by Stephen Mitchell, 1995)
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The bold in daring will be killed
The bold in not daring will survive
Of these two, one may benefit, the other may harm
The one hated by Heaven – who knows the reason?
Even the sages still find this difficult
The Tao of Heaven:
Does not contend and yet excels in winning
Does not speak and yet excels in responding
Is not summoned and yet comes on its own
Is unhurried and yet excels in planning
The heavenly net is vast
Loose, and yet does not let anything slip through
(translation by Derek Lin, 2006)
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I know I have failed in my mission.
Heaven knows I have succeeded.
I know the earth will forget me.
Heaven knows these are immortal words.
(translation by Jeremy M. Miller, 2013)
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from I Ching Online
