The hearing that is only in the ears is one thing. The hearing of the understanding is another. But the hearing of the spirit is not limited to any one faculty to the ear, or to the mind.
ZhuangziRead
Either in conflict with others or in harmony with them, we go through life like a runaway horse, unable to stop.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is a journey that often feels chaotic and out of control, regardless of our relationships with others.
This quote by Zhuangzi reflects the unpredictable nature of life and how individuals can find themselves caught in a whirlwind of events, whether in conflict or harmony with others. The metaphor of a 'runaway horse' suggests that, like the horse, we may be unable to fully control our path or our responses to the world around us, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness amidst life's chaos.
Themes
LifeChaosControlHarmonyConflict
In practice
Example use cases
This would be a great quote to share during a philosophy class discussion on the nature of human existence.
More from Zhuangzi
All quotes βWhen people do not ignore what they should ignore, but ignore what they should not ignore, this is known as ignorance.
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The true man of the past waited upon Heaven when dealing with people and did not wait upon people when dealing with Heaven.
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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
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All the fish needs is to get lost in the water. All man needs is to get lost in Tao.
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Where is that man who has forgotten words that I may have a word with him?
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