The flora flourishes and withers away; it does not bloom for the sake of the righteous, nor does it perish because of the wicked. This is the very manifestation of the Great Tao operating with ultimate fairness and equality. Human suffering most often originates from craving—desiring the exclusive favor of parents, the absolute loyalty of a partner, or the monopoly of fame and wealth. Little do they realize that in the eyes of Heaven and Earth, all things are entirely equal; there is no inherent distinction between the close and the distant. To cling obsessively to being loved or validated is, in truth, to simply trap oneself in a cage of illusion.

Lao Tzu also taught: "The Way of Heaven has no favorites; it is always with the good." This does not mean that the Way of Heaven deliberately hands out rewards for good deeds. Rather, it reveals that a person of true goodness acts in perfect accordance with natural laws. By choosing not to force outcomes or aggressively compete, they naturally arrive at harmonious, beautiful, and lasting results.