Zhuangzi

Philosopher Chinese 369 – 286

Daoist philosopher known for paradoxes and butterfly parable.

383 quotes

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."
Courage
"To know yourself, you must sacrifice the urge to be known by others."
Solitude
"Yield and overcome, bend and be straight, empty and be full, wear out and be new."
Philosophy
"The mind of the sage is peaceful. A sage sees the world as he sees himself."
Peace
"I am content to be a wanderer."
Adventure
"When nothing is done, nothing remains undone."
Wisdom
"All things arise and pass away. But the source they arise from is eternal."
Life
"Forget about winning and losing. Forget about pride and shame."
Freedom
"The soft overcomes the hard; the weak overcomes the strong."
Strength
"In the pursuit of knowledge, every day something is acquired."
Education
"In the pursuit of the Way, every day something is dropped."
Wisdom
"The usefulness of the pot is in its emptiness."
Philosophy
"I do not know how I came to be here."
"Be like water, formless and adaptable."
Nature
"There is no greater sin than desire, no greater curse than discontent."
Peace
"The dull emerge from the darkness; only the light of awareness pierces the veil."
Wisdom
"Happiness for this moment is enough."
Happiness
"The snow in the mountains never melts; the sun's heat cannot reach it."
Solitude
"To be of use is not a matter of talent; it is a matter of spirit."
Work
"The useless tree was spared because it was useless."
Philosophy
"I would rather be a living dog than a dead lion."
Life
"When the hinge is not moving, it never decays."
Peace
"All beings possess Buddha-nature; all can become Buddhas."
Faith
"The more you take, the less you have. The more you give, the more you have."
Gratitude
"Nothing is permanent except change."
Change
"The sage knows himself without seeing himself."
Wisdom
"Pursue not what you desire, but perfect yourself."
Motivation
"When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky."
Humor
"Great understanding is broad and unhurried; hurried and narrow understanding is not great."
Wisdom
"A farmer depends on four things: weather, soil, hard work, and skill."
Success