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
If you persist in trying to attain what is never attained (It is Tao's gift), if you persist in making effort to obtain what effort cannot get, if you persist in reasoning about what cannot be understood, you will be destroyed by the very thing you seek. To know when to stop, to know when you can get no further by your own action, this is the right beginning!
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing limits and knowing when to stop pursuing unattainable goals.
Zhuangzi's quote speaks to the futility of relentlessly chasing after things that are inherently unattainable, suggesting that such pursuits can lead to one's downfall. It highlights the value of understanding the point at which efforts are fruitless and the wisdom in knowing when to let go, advocating for a more balanced approach to desire and effort.
Themes
PersistenceWisdomLimitsUnderstandingEffort
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about the importance of balance in life.
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.
ZhuangziRead
When people do not ignore what they should ignore, but ignore what they should not ignore, this is known as ignorance.
ZhuangziRead
The true man of the past waited upon Heaven when dealing with people and did not wait upon people when dealing with Heaven.
ZhuangziRead
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
ZhuangziRead
All the fish needs is to get lost in the water. All man needs is to get lost in Tao.
ZhuangziRead
Similar quotes
If thou wilt be observant and vigilant, thou wilt see at every moment the response to thy action. Be observant if thou wouldst have a pure heart, for something is born to thee in consequence of every action.
RumiRead
Once I gave up the hunt for villains, I had little recourse but to take responsibility for my choices.... Needless to say, this is far less satisfying that nailing villains. It also turned out to be more healing in the end.
Barbara Brown TaylorRead
At the age of 60, I am less experimental and more mature. I want most of all to convey my understanding of life.
Orhan PamukRead
To make the public sentiment on the side of all that is just and true and noble is the highest use of life.
Lucy StoneRead
Say to Yourself when Someone Else is Criticizing U, 'What U Think of Me is None of My Business'
Wayne DyerRead
I find, the older I get, the more surprised I am about how hesitant people are to say what they really want, what they really dream about, what really drives them. It's as if sometimes we're sort of embarrassed, as we get older, to be transparent about that. But you save so much time if you're transparent about what you want.
Gillian FlynnRead