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Zhuangzi Quotes

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Famous Zhuangzi Quotes

“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.”

IfsMindSaidStillsUseEarthHeavenWaterLevelsVirtueClearQuietAll ThingsMirrorsRegardBe GoodFacultyMultitudesSageBeardMeasurementHeaven And EarthQuietnessCarpenterEyelashesStill Waters
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“The mind remains undetermined in the great Void. Here the highest knowledge is unbounded. That which gives things their thusness cannot be delimited by things. So when we speak of 'limits', we remain confined to limited things. The limit of the unlimited is called 'fullness.' The limitlessness of the limited is called 'emptiness.' Tao is the source of both. But it is itself neither fullness nor emptiness”

GivingMindSpeakSourceLimitsHighestRemainsEmptinessVoidUnlimitedTaoFullnessConfined
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“When an archer is shooting for nothing, he has all his skill. If he shoots for a brass buckle, he is already nervous. If he shoots for a prize of gold, he goes blind or sees two targets - He is out of his mind! His skill has not changed. But the prize divides him. He cares. He thinks more of winning than of shooting- And the need to win drains him of power.”

IfsThinkingNeedsMindTwoCareWinningChangedSkillsGoldBlindCaringNervousShootingPrizeTargetDividesDrainsBrassArcherBuckles
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“When he tries to extend his power over objects, those objects gain control of him. He who is controlled by objects loses possession of his inner self... Prisoners in the world of object, they have no choice but to submit to the demands of matter! They are pressed down and crushed by external forces: fashion, the market, events, public opinion. Never in a whole lifetime do they recover their right mind!... What a pity!”

WorldTryingMindSelfMatterWholeChoicesForceLosesOpinionFashionEventsObjectsDemandGainsDown AndLifetimePossessionWhole LifePityControlledPrisonerSubmitPublic OpinionCrushedInner SelfExternal Forces
Author:Zhuangzi
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