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
The love of a Sage for his fellows likewise finds expression amongst mankind. Were he not told sop, he would not know that he loved his fellows. But whether he knows it or whether he does not know it, whether he hears it or whether he does not hear it, his love for his is without end, and mankind cease not to repose therein.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True love transcends knowledge and recognition, existing unconditionally among people.
This quote by Zhuangzi highlights the profound nature of love that a Sage possesses for humanity. It suggests that such love is not contingent upon awareness or acknowledgment; it exists inherently and continues to provide comfort and support to mankind regardless of whether it is recognized or not. Essentially, it reflects the idea that genuine love is boundless and eternal, persisting even in silence or absence of recognition.
Themes
LoveSageMankindUniversalityEndless
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of compassion in leadership, one could invoke this quote to illustrate that true care for others exists inherently.
More from Zhuangzi
All quotes →Either 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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