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The Tao has no place for pettiness, and nor has Virtue. Pettiness is dangerous to Virtue; pettiness is dangerous to the Tao. It is said, rectify yourself and be done.
Zhuangzi
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of avoiding trivial concerns to maintain personal integrity and harmony with the Tao.

Zhuangzi highlights that both the Tao, which represents the natural way of the universe, and Virtue, which signifies moral integrity, do not tolerate trivial or petty behaviors. By illustrating the dangers of pettiness on the path to living a virtuous and harmonious life, Zhuangzi encourages individuals to focus on self-improvement and genuine values rather than getting caught up in insignificant matters.

Themes

TaoVirtuePettinessSelf-ImprovementIntegrityLife

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about personal growth, someone could say this quote to emphasize focusing on meaningful actions rather than trivial concerns.

More from Zhuangzi

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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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