Perfect happiness is the absence of striving for happiness.
The living all find death unpleasant; men mourn over it. And yet, what is death, but the unbending of the bow and its return to its case?
Men honor what lies within the sphere of their knowledge, but do not realize how dependent they are on what lies beyond it.
Never admire a man by his strength; judge him in how he uses it- A way is made by walking it.
We cling to our own point of view, as though everything depended on it. Yet our opinions have no permanence; like autumn and winter, they gradually pass away.
Let everything be allowed to do what it naturally does, so that its nature will be satisfied.
Am I a human dreaming I am a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming I am a human?
We are born from a quiet sleep, and we die to a calm awakening.
Once Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly...
Either in conflict with others or in harmony with them, we go through life like a runaway horse, unable to stop.
He who regards all things as one is a companion of Nature.
The wise man knows that it is better to sit on the banks of a remote mountain stream than to be emperor of the whole world.
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.
The whole world is incapable of judging either right or wrong. but it is certain that actionless action can judge both right and wrong.
We possess our body by chance and we are already pleased with it. If our physical bodies went through ten thousand transformations without end, how incomparable would this joy be! Therefore the sage roams freely in the realm in which nothing can escape, but all endures.
When an archer shoots for enjoyment, he has all his skill; when he shoots for a brass buckle, he gets nervous; when he shoots for a prize of gold, he begins to see two targets.
My opinion is that you never find happiness until you stop looking for it.
Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can talk with him?
Cherish that which is in you and shut out that which is without, for much knowledge is a curse.
For we can only know that we know nothing, and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.