Zhuang Zhou Quotes

Right is not right; so is not so. If right were really right it would differ so clearly from not right that there would be no need for argument. If so were really so, it would differ so clearly from not so that there would be no need for argument.

You cannot speak of ocean to a well-frog.

Resolve your mental energy into abstraction, your physical energy into inaction. Allow yourself to fall in with the natural order of phenomena, without admitting the element of self,—and the empire will be governed.

[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/zhuangzi/ Zhuangzi], Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

[http://web.archive.org/web/20041010171643/http://users.compaqnet.be/cn111132/chuang-tzu/ Complete Works Of Chuang Tzu], translated by Burton Watson

昔者庄周梦为蝴蝶，栩栩然蝴蝶也，自喻适志与，不知周也。俄然觉，则戚戚然周也。不知周之梦为蝴蝶与，蝴蝶之梦为周与？周与蝴蝶则必有分矣。此之谓物化。