Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi, an influential philosopher of ancient China, is renowned for his profound contributions to Daoism and his distinctive narrative style that blends philosophical insight with parable-like stories.
Living during the Warring States period (approximately 369–286 BCE), Zhuangzi’s thoughts reflect a world in flux, marked by political turmoil and existential uncertainty. His eponymous text, the "Zhuangzi," comprises a collection of essays and anecdotes that explore themes such as the nature of reality, the limitations of human perception, and the concept of spontaneity in harmony with the Dao, or the Way.
Through his playful yet incisive rhetoric, Zhuangzi encourages readers to question conventional wisdom and to embrace the fluidity of existence, offering a stark contrast to the rigid doctrines of his contemporaries. His legacy endures as a cornerstone of Daoist philosophy, embodying a vision of life that celebrates spontaneity, paradox, and the interconnectedness of all things.
All Quotes by Zhuangzi
Your preciousness lies in your essence; it cannot be lost by anything that happens.
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Zhuangzi
Words exist because of meaning; once you’ve gotten the meaning, you can forget the words.
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Zhuangzi
When people do not ignore what they should ignore, but ignore what they should not ignore, this is known as ignorance.
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Zhuangzi
We cling to our own point of view, as though everything depended on it. Yet our opinions have no permanence; like autumn and winter, they gradually pass away.
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Zhuangzi
The wise man knows that it is better to sit on the banks of a remote mountain stream than to be emperor of the whole world.
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Zhuangzi
The effect of life in society is to complicate and confuse our existence, making us forget who we really are by causing us to become obsessed with what we are not.
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Zhuangzi
Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.
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Zhuangzi
The perfect man uses his mind as a mirror. It grasps nothing. It regrets nothing. It receives but does not keep.
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Zhuangzi
Do not struggle. Go with the flow of things, and you will find yourself at one with the mysterious unity of the Universe.
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Zhuangzi
Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity without a starting point.
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Zhuangzi