Quotessence
Home / Authors / Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi

Zhuangzi Quotes

Philosopher

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenTaoismTaoKnowsIfsMindHeavenWayAll ThingsDoe

Famous Zhuangzi Quotes

“Those that think that wealth is the proper thing for them cannot give up their revenues; those that seek distinction cannot give up the thought of fame; those that cleave to power cannot give the handle of it to others. While they hold their grasp of those things, they are afraid of losing them. When they let them go, they are grieved and they will not look at a single example, from which they might perceive the folly of their restless pursuits - such men are under the doom of heaven.”

ThinkingMenGivingLooksMightHeavenWealthExampleFameGiving UpLosingPursuitHandlePerceiveFollyDistinctionNot Giving UpRestlessRevenueDoom
Author:Zhuangzi
Create image

“The fish trap exists because of the fish. Once you've gotten the fish you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit. Once you've gotten the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words exist because of meaning. Once you've gotten the meaning, you can forget the words. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can talk with him?”

MenInspirationalI CanPhilosophyForgetPhilosophicalForgottenFishesTrapsRabbitsSnares
Book:The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu
Create image

“Heaven does nothing: its non-doing is its serenity. Earth does nothing: its non-doing is its rest. From the union of these two non-doings All actions proceed. All things are made. How vast, how invisible This coming-to-be! All things come from nowhere! How vast, how invisible No way to explain it! All beings in their perfection Are born of non-doing. Hence it is said: Heaven and earth do nothing Yet there is nothing they do not do. Where is the man who can attain To this non-doing?”

MenWayDoeMadeSaidTwoWisdomActionEarthSpiritualHeavenBornHe ManAll ThingsPerfectionUnionsInvisibleSerenityHeaven And EarthDoings
Author:Zhuangzi
Create image

“Beneath multiple specific and individual distinctions, beneath innumerable and incessant transformations, at the bottom of the circular evolution without beginning or end, there hides a law, a unique nature participated in by all beings, in which this common participation produces a ground of common harmony.”

EndsLawScienceIndividualCommonProduceEvolutionUniqueTransformationHarmonyBottomDistinctionMultipleParticipationIncessantUnique Nature
Author:Zhuangzi
Create image

“Goods and possessions are no gain in his eyes. He stays far from wealth and honor. Long life is no ground for joy, nor early death for sorrow. Success is not for him to be pround of, failure is no shame. Had he all the world's power he would not hold it as his own. If he conquered everything he would not take it to himself. His glory is in knowing that all things come together in One and life and death are equal.”

IfsWorldLifeLongEyeTogetherLife IsJoyWealthKnowingFailureHonorSorrowEqualGloryGainsAll ThingsShamePossessionHis EyesLife And DeathGoodsLong LifeEarly Death
Author:Zhuangzi
Create image

“All that is limited by form, semblance, sound, color is called object. Among them all, man alone is more than an object. Though, like objects, he has form and semblance, He is not limited to form. He is more. He can attain to formlessness. When he is beyond form and semblance, beyond "this" and "that," where is the comparison with another object? Where is the conflict? What can stand in his way? He will rest in his eternal place which is no-place. He will be hidden in his own unfathomable secret. His nature sinks to its root in the One. His vitality, his power hide in secret Tao.”

MenWayFormSoundSecretObjectsColorConflictEternalRootsEternityComparisonTaoVitalityUnfathomableSemblance
Author:Zhuangzi
Create image

“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.”

IfsWayLifeYearsStillsUseCareRunningTogetherOrderCoursesParentKnowledgeTroubleMiddleDangerousGainsPraisePunishmentBoundariesPursueLimitlessCare For You
Author:Zhuangzi
Create image

“Love of colors bewilders the eye and it fails to see right. Love of harmonies bewitches the ear, and it loses its true hearing. Love of perfumes fills the head with dizziness. Love of flavors ruins the taste. Desires unsettle the heart until the original nature runs amok. These five are enemies of true life. Yet these are what men of discernment claim to live for. They are not what I live for. If this is life, then pigeons in a cage have found happiness!”

IfsMenHeartEyeRunningDesireFoundLosesEnemyFiveFailingColorTasteEarsClaimsHarmonyOriginalsHearingRuinsCagesFlavorPerfumeDiscernmentPigeonsTrue LifeFound Happiness
Author:Zhuangzi
Create image

“Who knows when the end is reached? Death may be the beginning of life. How do I know that love of life is not a delusion after all? How do I know that he who dreads to die is as a child who has lost the way and cannot find his way home? How do I know that the dead repent of having previously clung to life?”

KnowsWayMayChildrenEndsHomeLife IsDeathDiesLostPrayerDelusionLove LifeFuneralDreadRepentMemorialWay HomeFunerals And DeathBeginning Of Life
Author:Zhuangzi
Create image

“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.”

IfsKnowsPhilosophyDreamButterflyFluttering
Book:The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu
Create image