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 ultimate happiness is doing nothing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True happiness comes from finding joy in simplicity and inactivity.
Zhuangzi's quote suggests that the highest form of happiness is achieved through a state of non-action or relaxation. In a world that often glorifies productivity and busyness, he emphasizes the value of restful moments and the joy that can be found in simply being, rather than constantly striving or achieving.
Themes
HappinessRelaxationSimplicityJoyNon-Action
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about mental health.
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
Happiness is impossible for longer than 15 minutes. We are the descendants of creatures who, above all else, worried.
Alain De BottonRead
It doesn't all have to be about giving money. Sometimes it's a smile that changes the life of one little kid.
Masai UjiriRead
Don't you stay at home of evenings? Don't you love a cushioned seat in a corner, by the fireside, with your slippers on your feet?
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.Read
Happiness can be defined, in part at least, as the fruit of the desire and ability to sacrifice what we want now for what we want eventually.
Stephen CoveyRead
My wife, whenever I'd go off to work and I'd be kind of anxious, she'll say, 'Remember, have fun.' Oh, I forgot, thanks for the reminder. Because sometimes we do forget. We take it all too seriously and there's a lot of joy to be had wherever you are.
Jeff BridgesRead
It is wrong to assume that men of immense wealth are always happy.
John D. RockefellerRead