Either in conflict with others or in harmony with them, we go through life like a runaway horse, unable to stop. Zhuangzi More Quotes by Zhuangzi More Quotes From Zhuangzi As regards the quietude of the sage, he is not quiet because quietness is said to be good. He is quiet because the multitude of things cannot disturb his quietude. When water is still, one's beard and eyelashes are reflected in it. A skilled carpenter uses it in a level to obtain a measurement. If still water is so clear, how much more are the mental faculties! The mind of the sage is the mirror of heaven and earth in which all things are reflected. Zhuangzi eyelashes mirrors water The whole world is incapable of judging either right or wrong. but it is certain that actionless action can judge both right and wrong. Zhuangzi judging action world Yet the stupid believe they are awake, busily and brightly assuming they understand things, calling this man ruler, that one herdsman – how dense! Confucius and you are both dreaming! And when I say you are dreaming, I am dreaming, too. Words like these will be labeled the Supreme Swindle. Zhuangzi stupid dream believe Being is thoughtless-beyond and beneath all categories of thought. Expression is the realization of creative thought. Being is still; expression, moving. But then if I do not strive, who will? Zhuangzi creativity expression moving Can a man cling to the positive without any negative in contrast to which it is seen to be positive? If he claims to do so he is a rouge or a madman. Zhuangzi being-positive men negative If you wish to care for your body, first of all take care of material things, though even when you have all the things you want, the body can still be uncared for Zhuangzi care body wish The birth of a man is the birth of his sorrow. The longer he lives, the more stupid he becomes, because his anxiety to avoid unavoidable death becomes more and more acute. What bitterness! He lives for what is always out of reach! His thirst for survival in the future makes him incapable of living in the present. Zhuangzi wisdom stupid fun Big? Sure. But, he can't catch mice! So for your big tree. No use? Then plant it in the wasteland - in emptiness. Walk idly around it and rest under it's shadow. No axe or saw prepares its end. No one will ever cut it down. Useless? You should worry!. Zhuangzi cutting worry tree Water becomes clear and transparent when in a quiescent stage. How much the more wonderful will be the mind of a sage when poised in quiescence! It is the mirror of heaven and earth, reflecting the ten thousand things. Zhuangzi mirrors water heaven Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous. Zhuangzi contentious speech wisdom There are no greater adversaries than yin and yang, because nothing in Heaven or on Earth escapes them. But it is not yin and yang that do this, it is your heart that makes it so. Zhuangzi yang heart heaven A sage steers by the bright light of confusion and doubt. Zhuangzi confusion light doubt Once Chuang Chou dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Chuang Chou. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakeable Chuang Chou. But he didn't know if he was Chuang Chou who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Chuang Chou. Zhuangzi butterfly dream philosophy That knowledge which stops at what it does not know, is the highest knowledge. Zhuangzi knows doe science The man who has some respect for his person keeps his carcass out of sight, hides himself as perfectly as he can. Zhuangzi respect sight men Only the intelligent knows how to identify all things as one. . . . When one is at ease with himself, one is near Tao. This is to let Nature take its own course. Zhuangzi taoism intelligent nature Now, when ordinary people attempt to find happiness, I am not sure whether the happiness is really happiness or not. I study what ordinary people do to find happiness, what they struggle for, rushing about apparently unable to stop. Zhuangzi rushing struggle happiness To use what has a boundary to pursue what is limitless is dangerous; with this knowledge, if we still go after knowledge, we will run into trouble. Do not do what is good in order to gain praise. If you do what is bad be sure to avoid the punishment. Follow the Middle Course, for this is the way to keep yourself together, to sustain your life, to care for your parents and to live for many years. Zhuangzi running life knowledge A man who knows he is a fool is not a great fool. Zhuangzi self-knowledge fool men The knowledge of the ancients reached the highest point-the time before anything existed. This is the highest point. It is exhaustive. There is no adding to it. Zhuangzi highest creation
