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
It is only when the formed learns from the unformed that there is understanding.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True understanding occurs when the experienced learns from the inexperienced.
This quote emphasizes the value of learning from all experiences, especially those that may seem less developed or less traditional. Zhuangzi suggests that wisdom is not solely gained through structured knowledge but also through the insights and perspectives offered by those who are still forming their understanding of the world.
Themes
UnderstandingLearningWisdomExperienceGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about education, this quote can highlight the importance of experiential learning.
More from Zhuangzi
All quotes βEither in conflict with others or in harmony with them, we go through life like a runaway horse, unable to stop.
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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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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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