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
The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish, and when the fish are caught the trap is forgotten. The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits. When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten. The purpose of the word is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that tools and words are merely means to an end, and once their purpose is fulfilled, they should be set aside.
Zhuangzi's quote reflects on the idea that both physical tools, like traps, and abstract concepts, like words, are only valuable insofar as they fulfill their intended purpose. Once their purpose is achieved—catching fish or rabbits, or conveying ideas—then the tools and words themselves should be forgotten to appreciate the essence of what they have brought forth. The quote points to a deeper understanding where true communication transcends language, suggesting that the ultimate goal is the sharing of ideas rather than the use of words themselves.
Themes
PurposeCommunicationIdeasWordsPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of clear communication, one might say this quote to emphasize the value of ideas over language.
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.
ZhuangziRead
When people do not ignore what they should ignore, but ignore what they should not ignore, this is known as ignorance.
ZhuangziRead
The true man of the past waited upon Heaven when dealing with people and did not wait upon people when dealing with Heaven.
ZhuangziRead
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.
ZhuangziRead
Similar quotes
Fear is a relative thing; its effects are relative to power.
Sarah HallRead
Naturally, since [the Sumerians] didn't know what caused the flood anymore than we do, they blamed the gods. (That's the advantage of religion. You're never short an explanation for anything.)
Isaac AsimovRead
This is one of their [the Christians'] rules. Let no man that is learned, wise, or prudent come among us: but if they be unlearned, or a child, or an idiot, let him freely come. So they openly declare that none but the ignorant, and those devoid of understanding, slaves, women, and children, are fit disciples for the God they worship.
Aulus Cornelius CelsusRead
Every walker is a guard on patrol to protect the ineffable.
Rebecca SolnitRead
Minds that are ill at ease are agitated by both hope and fear.
OvidRead
People were always sorry. Sorry they had done what they had done, sorry they were doing what they were doing, sorry they were going to do what they were going to do; but they still did whatever it is. The sorrow never stopped them; it just made them feel better. And so the sorrow never stopped.
Iain BanksRead