Zhuangzi

Words are not just wind. Words have something to say. But if what they have to say is not fixed, then do they really say something? Or do they say nothing? People suppose that words are different from the peeps of baby birds, but is there any difference, or isn't there? What does the Way rely upon, that we have true and false? What do words rely upon, that we have right and wrong? How can the Way go away and not exist? How can words exist and not be acceptable? When the Way relies on little accomplishments and words reply on vain show, then we have rights and wrongs of the Confucians and the Mo-ists. What one calls right the other calls wrong; what one calls wrong the other calls right. But if we want to right their wrongs and wrong their rights, then the best to use is clarity.

Men of the world who value the Way all turn to books. But books are nothing more than words. Words have value; what is of value in words is meaning. Meaning has something it is pursuing, but the thing that it is pursuing cannot be put into words and handed down. The world values words and hands down books but, though the world values them, I do not think them worth valuing. What the world takes to be values is not real value.

The sage is still not because he takes stillness to be good and therefore is still. The ten thousand things are insufficient to distract his mind - that is the reason he is still.

The Perfect Man uses his mind like a mirror - going after nothing, welcoming nothing, responding but not storing.

The Spirit Tower has its guardian, but unless it understands who its guardian is, it cannot be guarded.

The time of the autumn floods came and the hundred streams poured into the Yellow River. _ Then the Lord of the River was beside himself with Joy, believing that all the beauty in the world belonged to him alone.

I've heard my teacher say, where there are machines, there are bound to be machine worries; where there are machine worries, there are bound to be machine hearts. With a machine heart in your breast, you've spoiled what was pure and simple; and without the pure and simple, the life of the spirit knows no rest.

If a man crosses a riverand an empty boat collides with his own skiff,Even though he be bad tempered manHe will not become very angry. But if he sees a man in the boat,He will shout at him to steer clear.If the shout is not heard, he will shout again, and yet again, and begin cursing.And all because someone is in the boat.Yet if the boat were empty,He would not be shouting, and not angry.If you can empty your own boatCrossing the river of the world,No one will oppose you, No one will seek to harm you

Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was myself. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.

Only he who has no use for the empire is fit to be entrusted with it.

Yet the stupid believe they are awake, busily and brightly assuming they understand things, calling this man ruler, that one herdsman _ how dense! Confucius and you are both dreaming! And when I say you are dreaming, I am dreaming, too. Words like these will be labeled the Supreme Swindle.

Rewards and punishment is the lowest form of education.

Life comes from the earth and life returns to the earth.

Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.

Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous.

Cherish that which is within you, and shut off that which is without; for much knowledge is a curse.

Men honor what lies within the sphere of their knowledge, but do not realize how dependent they are on what lies beyond it.

I know the joy of fishes in the river through my own joy, as I go walking along the same river.