"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."Zhuangzi
DreamsReality
Zhuangzi Quotes
50 FAMOUS QUOTES · PHILOSOPHER
Zhuangzi Quotes
Read 15 Zhuangzi quotes on happiness, wisdom, freedom and the butterfly dream from the ancient Chinese Taoist philosopher (c. 369–288 BC).
"Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness."Zhuangzi
HappinessContentment
"Forget the years, forget distinctions. Leap into the boundless and make it your home!"Zhuangzi
FreedomBoundlessness
"Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous."Zhuangzi
WisdomSpeech
"Those who realize their folly are not true fools."Zhuangzi
Self-AwarenessWisdom
"All men know the utility of useful things; but they do not know the utility of futility."Zhuangzi
ParadoxUsefulness
"Men honor what lies within the sphere of their knowledge, but do not realize how dependent they are on what lies beyond it."Zhuangzi
KnowledgeHumility
"Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can have a word with him?"Zhuangzi
LanguageUnderstanding
"He who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a scholar."Zhuangzi
FameIntegrity
"Cherish that which is within you, and shut off that which is without; for much knowledge is a curse."Zhuangzi
Inner PeaceSimplicity
"Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education."Zhuangzi
EducationMotivation
"I know the joy of fishes in the river through my own joy, as I go walking along the same river."Zhuangzi
JoyEmpathy
"Life comes from the earth and life returns to the earth."Zhuangzi
"For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions."Zhuangzi
WisdomInfinity
"Away then with wisdom and knowledge, and great robbers will disappear!"Zhuangzi
ParadoxSociety
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About Zhuangzi
Chinese - Philosopher | c. 369 BC - c. 288 BC
# Zhuangzi Quotes
Zhuangzi (also written Chuang Tzu), whose personal name was Zhuang Zhou, was an ancient Chinese philosopher who lived during the Warring States period, around 369 to 288 BC. Little is known about his life beyond the stories in the book that bears his name, which says he worked as a minor official in the state of Song and turned down offers of high office in order to keep his freedom.
The Zhuangzi is, with the Tao Te Ching, one of the two foundational texts of Taoism. Full of parables, humour and paradox, it teaches spontaneity, freedom from rigid convention and harmony with the natural flow of life. Its most famous passage is the "butterfly dream," which questions the line between dreaming and waking. His quotes, here in English translation, are playful, wise and timeless.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Zhuangzi and these famous quotes.
Who was Zhuangzi?
Zhuangzi (c. 369–288 BC) was an ancient Chinese philosopher and one of the founding figures of Taoism, alongside Laozi.
What is the butterfly dream?
In the famous parable, Zhuangzi dreams he is a butterfly, then wakes and wonders whether he is a man who dreamt of being a butterfly or a butterfly now dreaming it is a man. It questions what is real.
What is the Zhuangzi book about?
The Zhuangzi is a collection of stories and essays that teaches living naturally and freely, letting go of fixed ideas, and finding harmony with the Tao, or "Way".
What is the "joy of fishes" story?
Zhuangzi and his friend Huizi debate whether Zhuangzi can know that the fish in a river are happy. It is a playful dialogue about knowledge and empathy.