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 true man breathes with his heels.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that a truly wise person is grounded and authentic, drawing strength and stability from their foundation.
Zhuangzi's quote, 'The true man breathes with his heels,' symbolizes a deep connection to one's roots and the importance of being authentic and secure in oneβs existence. It implies that true wisdom and strength come from being firmly planted in reality, embracing who you are, and allowing your core values to guide your actions and decisions. The imagery of 'breathing with his heels' suggests stability, balance, and a holistic approach to living, highlighting the significance of inner strength and awareness in navigating life.
Themes
WisdomAuthenticitySelf-AwarenessStrengthGrounded
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, this quote encourages listeners to stay true to themselves.
More from Zhuangzi
All quotes βEither 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
It is my firm belief that the infinite and uncontrollable fury of nuclear weapons should never be held in the hands of any mere mortal ever again, for any reason.
Mikhail GorbachevRead
This contradiction lies here: they wish God, and they wish humanity. They persist in connecting two terms which, once separated, can come together again only to destroy each other.
Mikhail BakuninRead
We are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations, and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart.
Aiden Wilson TozerRead
I'm trying to get Americans to see that we're all pretty much the same. I believe it; I was taught God doesn't have a color. I want to better the planet a little bit.
James McbrideRead
Do you see law and order? There is nothing but disorder, and instead of law there is the illusion of security. It is an illusion because it is built on a long history of injustices: racism, criminality, and the genocide of millions. Many people say it is insane to resist the system, but actually, it is insane not to.
Mumia Abu-JamalRead
We cannot expect that all nations will adopt like systems, for conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.
John F. KennedyRead