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 purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish, and when the fish are caught the trap is forgotten. The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits. When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten. The purpose of the word is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that tools and words are merely means to an end, and once their purpose is fulfilled, they should be set aside.
Zhuangzi's quote reflects on the idea that both physical tools, like traps, and abstract concepts, like words, are only valuable insofar as they fulfill their intended purpose. Once their purpose is achieved—catching fish or rabbits, or conveying ideas—then the tools and words themselves should be forgotten to appreciate the essence of what they have brought forth. The quote points to a deeper understanding where true communication transcends language, suggesting that the ultimate goal is the sharing of ideas rather than the use of words themselves.
Themes
PurposeCommunicationIdeasWordsPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of clear communication, one might say this quote to emphasize the value of ideas over language.
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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