The divine is the most divine, wisdom and cleverness are of no benefit “means that the arrangements of heaven are the most miraculous, and human wisdom and skills are often useless in the face of divine will.
This sentence comes from Hong Yingming’s compilation, used to expound a philosophy: even if a person is clever and strategic, they cannot fully control or predict the arrangements of heaven and the changes in fate. It emphasizes that the power of heaven (flexibility and change) is the most magical, and human intelligence and ingenuity seem insignificant in the face of divine will. Specifically, ‘If a virtuous person has no intention of seeking blessings, then heaven will have no intention of caring about them.’ This means that a gentleman with steadfast aspirations, although he does not intend to pray for blessings, heaven will guide him in places he does not intend to, and help him complete his sincere career. On the contrary, ‘when people try to avoid disaster, the heavens seize their souls in a hurry’, indicating that those who use all their scheming to escape disaster will be taken away by heaven when they cleverly use their scheming.
This sentence also reflects the ancient people’s thinking on the relationship between destiny and intelligence, that is, although humans can deal with some problems in life through wisdom and skills, these intelligence often appear powerless when facing greater destiny arrangements. It reminds people to follow the laws of nature and destiny, not to force them, and to listen to nature in everything.
《菜根谭》是明朝还初道人洪应明收集编著的儒家经典，是一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录集。其文字简炼明隽，兼采雅俗，言辞中流露出山林意趣，渗透着万物一体的世界观。开出的处世之方偏重心态和人事，悟虚妄真实之理，指出贫富、尊卑、穷达因为心念使善恶、祸福相互转换，告诫世人及时转念，戒贪少欲，取中庸之道。著作前后内容和深度有所不同，反映出了不同的阅历和境界。
Caigen Tan “is a Confucian classic collected and compiled by Hong Yingming, a Taoist during the early Ming Dynasty. It is a collection of sayings discussing cultivation, life, social interactions, and worldly affairs. His writing is concise, clear, and elegant, with a blend of elegance and vulgarity. His words reveal the charm of mountains and forests, permeating the worldview of the unity of all things. The way of dealing with the world emphasized on mentality and human affairs, realizing the truth of falsehood, pointing out that wealth, hierarchy, and poverty can be transformed into good and evil, as well as good and bad, due to the mindset. It warned people to change their mindset in a timely manner, avoid greed and desires, and take the middle way. The content and depth of the work differ before and after, reflecting different experiences and realms.
《菜根谭》（天机最神、智巧何益）
贞士无心徼福，天即就无心处牖其衷；憸人著意避祸，天即就著意中夺其魄。可见天之机权最神，人之智巧何益？
The man of steadfast morals does not pray for happiness, but Heaven, without him knowing it, fulfills his heart’s desires. The vicious man is most concerned with escaping calamities, but as he takes steps to do so Heaven deprives him of his senses and leaves him defenceless. From this, we can see that the ingenuity and power of Heaven is unfathomable. What is the use of man’s puny efforts and craftiness?
（保罗·怀特 译）
A faithful man has no desire to pray for happiness, but Providence, without being noticed, helps him fulfill his wishes. A sinister-minded man does his utmost to shun calamities, but just when he is bent on it, Providence deprives him of his soul and snaps his vitality. It is obvious that the magic power of Providence is supernatural. How can the resources of human beings prevail against it?
（周文标 译）
The faithful man has no intention to pray for fortune, and yet heaven enlightens his mind to fulfill his wish just where there is no intention on his part; the treacherous man takes care to keep away misfortune, and yet heaven snatches his soul just when care is taken. This shows heaven’s workings are mysterious. Of what avail then are man’s craft and tact?
（蒋坚松 译）
