73.
Those who are courageous out of daring will kill or be killed
Those who are courageous out of love will always preserve life
These two may help and may harm
Who knows the reason for what heaven dislikes?
Even the sage is unsure of this
The way of heaven
does not contend, but easily overcomes,
does not speak, and yet is answered,
does not ask, yet is supplied with all its needs,
Calmly, it lays plans
The net of heaven is vast
Though its meshes are wide,
nothing slips through
74.
If people no longer fear death,
it is of no avail to threaten them with death
But even if these offenders feared death,
and if breaking the law means that a man will be killed,
which of us would dare to seize them and slay them?
Nature is the official executioner
When man takes nature's place,
as when a carpenter's apprentice takes place of the master,
he may slice his own hand
75.
Why are the people starving?
Because rulers eat up the money in taxes
Why are the people rebellious?
Because rulers interfere too much
Why do the people treat death lightly?
Because the rulers demand too much of life
And indeed, in that their hearts are so little set on life,
they are wiser than those who value life too much
76.
A man is born gentle and weak;
at his death he is hard and stiff
Green plants are tender and filled with sap;
at their death they are withered and dry
Therefore the stiff and unbending is the companion of death
The gentle and yielding is the companion of life
Thus an inflexible army will lose
The stiffest tree is cut for use
The hard and strong will fall
The soft and weak will overcome
