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
Those that think that wealth is the proper thing for them cannot give up their revenues; those that seek distinction cannot give up the thought of fame; those that cleave to power cannot give the handle of it to others. While they hold their grasp of those things, they are afraid of losing them. When they let them go, they are grieved and they will not look at a single example, from which they might perceive the folly of their restless pursuits - such men are under the doom of heaven.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The pursuit of wealth, fame, and power often leads to a sorrowful attachment and fear of loss, trapping individuals in a cycle of desire and dissatisfaction.
Zhuangzi's quote reflects on the human tendency to cling to material possessions, social recognition, and authority. It suggests that those who cannot let go of these values are doomed to a life of anxiety and grief, as their happiness is conditional upon retaining these things. The quote serves as a warning against the relentless chase of external validations, highlighting that true wisdom lies in recognizing the futility of such pursuits and embracing a more detached, peaceful existence.
Themes
WealthFamePowerAttachmentPursuitWisdomContentmentHappinessDesire
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational talk about the dangers of materialism.
More from Zhuangzi
All quotes →Either in conflict with others or in harmony with them, we go through life like a runaway horse, unable to stop.
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When people do not ignore what they should ignore, but ignore what they should not ignore, this is known as ignorance.
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The true man of the past waited upon Heaven when dealing with people and did not wait upon people when dealing with Heaven.
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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.
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