Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Though through all his life a fool associates with a wise man, he yet understands not the Dharma, as the spoon, the flavor of soup.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A fool may be with a wise person but still fail to understand true wisdom.
This quote emphasizes that mere proximity to wisdom does not guarantee understanding. It highlights the importance of personal insight and awareness, suggesting that even when someone is surrounded by wisdom, like a fool with a wise man, they may not grasp the true essence or meaning, similar to how a spoon canβt taste the flavor of soup itself.
Themes
WisdomFoolUnderstandingInsightDharma
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about the importance of seeking personal insight rather than just associating with knowledgeable individuals.
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Make an island of yourself, make yourself your refuge; there is no other refuge. Make truth your island, make truth your refuge; there is no other refuge.
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When a wise man is advised of his errors, he will reflect on and improve his conduct. When his misconduct is pointed out, a foolish man will not only disregard the advice but rather repeat the same error.
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The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
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