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

— Zhuangzi

The tailor bird builds her nest in deep woods, she uses no more than one branch. The mole drinks off the river, it can only fill one belly.

— Zhuangzi

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.

— Zhuangzi

The True Man of ancient times knew nothing of loving life, knew nothing of hating death. He emerged without delight; he went back in without a fuss. He came briskly, he went briskly, and that was all. Furthermore, he didn't forget where he began; he didn't try to find out where he would end. Furthermore, he received something and took pleasure in it; he forgot about it and handed it back again.

— Zhuangzi

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.

— Zhuangzi

Things joined by profit, when pressed by misfortune and danger, will cast each other aside.

— Zhuangzi

Those who seek to satisfy the mind of man by hampering it with ceremonies and music and affecting charity and devotion have lost their original nature.

— Zhuangzi

Today, I went to sleep under a plum tree. There, I dreamed I was a butterfly, flying so pleasantly. Then, I fell asleep, and the dream ended. Now- I have to ask myself - am I Zhang ZI who dreamed of a butterfly? Or am I that butterfly, dreaming I am Zhang ZI?

— Zhuangzi

Understanding that rests in what it does not understand is the finest.

— Zhuangzi

We are born from a quiet sleep, and we die to a calm awakening

— Zhuangzi