QuoteProject
The true man of the past waited upon Heaven when dealing with people and did not wait upon people when dealing with Heaven.
Zhuangzi
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of valuing spiritual or divine guidance over human opinions in matters of ethics and morality.

Zhuangzi's quote reflects a deep philosophical belief that true wisdom comes from aligning oneself with higher principles, such as those imparted by Heaven or the universe, especially when interacting with others. It suggests that one should prioritize these eternal truths rather than being swayed by the fluctuating opinions and judgments of people, promoting a sense of moral integrity and authenticity in relationships and actions.

Themes

WisdomGuidanceTruthIntegritySpirituality

In practice

Example use cases

During a philosophical discussion about ethics in a classroom setting.

More from Zhuangzi

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
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 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
Where is that man who has forgotten words that I may have a word with him?
ZhuangziRead

Similar quotes

Noble ideas, great sentiments have always existed and have always been transmitted, but wars have never ceased.
Maria MontessoriRead
I have found words [in the Bible] for my inmost thoughts, songs for my joy, utterances for my hidden griefs, and pleadings for my shame and my feebleness.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
[The Pope] will make the king believe that three are only one, that the bread he eats is not bread... and a thousand other things of the same kind.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
I had given up practising my Jewish religion when I was a 14-year-old girl and did not begin to feel Jewish again until I had returned to God.
Edith SteinRead
The stories we are told shape the way we see the world, which shapes the way we experience the world.
Derrick JensenRead
When we can see the image of God where we don't want to see the image of God, then we see with eyes not our own.
Richard RohrRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.