--- title: "7 Empty Quotes By Zhuangzi" description: "7 Empty quotes by Zhuangzi. Plus more from Zhuangzi and more Empty sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/zhuangzi-1341_angry_if-a-man-is-crossing-the-river-and-an-em_27036.jpg" --- > [If a man is crossing the river and an empty boat collides with his skiff, even though he is a bad tempered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/if-a-man-is-crossing-the-river-and-an-empty-boat-collides-with-his/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/zhuangzi-1341_angry_if-a-man-is-crossing-the-river-and-an-em_27036.jpg) > [Hence it demands the emptiness of all the faculties. And when the faculties are empty, then the whole being listens. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/hence-it-demands-the-emptiness-of-all-the-faculties-and-when-the/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/zhuangzi-1341_demand_hence-it-demands-the-emptiness-of-all-th_138583.jpg) > [Do not seek fame. Do not make plans. Do not be absorbed by activities. Do not think that you know. Be aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/do-not-seek-fame-do-not-make-plans-do-not-be-absorbed-by-activities/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f51/zhuangzi-1341_activity_do-not-seek-fame-do-not-make-plans-do-no_179577.jpg) > [Look at this window: it is nothing but a hole in the wall, but because of it the whole room is full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/look-at-this-window-it-is-nothing-but-a-hole-in-the-wall-but-because/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/zhuangzi-1341_emptiness_look-at-this-window-it-is-nothing-but-a_2245678.jpg) > [Make your will one! Don't listen with your ears, listen with your mind. No, don't listen with your mind, but listen with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/make-your-will-one-don-t-listen-with-your-ears-listen-with-your-mind/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/zhuangzi-1341_all-things_make-your-will-one-don-t-listen-with-you_2510194.jpg) > [In a river mist, if another boat knocks against yours, you might yell at the other fellow to stay clear. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/in-a-river-mist-if-another-boat-knocks-against-yours-you-might-yell/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/528/zhuangzi-1341_adrift_in-a-river-mist-if-another-boat-knocks-a_3058342.jpg) > [Listening stops with the ears, the mind stops with recognition, but spirit is empty and waits on all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/listening-stops-with-the-ears-the-mind-stops-with-recognition-but/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/zhuangzi-1341_all-things_listening-stops-with-the-ears-the-mind-s_3168751.jpg) ## Other authors on Empty ## More by Zhuangzi > [Sorrow and happiness are the heresies of virtue; joy and anger lead astray from TAO; love and hate cause loss of virtue. The heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/sorrow-and-happiness-are-the-heresies-of-virtue-joy-and-anger-lead/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [The enlightened attention rejects nothing nor welcomes anything-like a mirror it responds equally to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/the-enlightened-attention-rejects-nothing-nor-welcomes-anything-like/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [If a man is crossing the river and an empty boat collides with his skiff, even though he is a bad tempered man he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/if-a-man-is-crossing-the-river-and-an-empty-boat-collides-with-his/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Calculate what man knows and it cannot compare to what he doesn't know. Calculate the time he is alive and it cannot compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/calculate-what-man-knows-and-it-cannot-compare-to-what-he-doesn-t/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Heaven cannot but be high. Earth cannot but be broad. The sun and moon cannot but revolve. All creation cannot but flourish. To do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/heaven-cannot-but-be-high-earth-cannot-but-be-broad-the-sun-and-moon/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [If you wish to care for your body, first of all take care of material things, though even when you have all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/if-you-wish-to-care-for-your-body-first-of-all-take-care-of-material/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [As regards the quietude of the sage, he is not quiet because quietness is said to be good. He is quiet because the multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/as-regards-the-quietude-of-the-sage-he-is-not-quiet-because-quietness/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [All existing things are really one. We regard those that are beautiful and rare as valuable, and those that are ugly as foul and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/all-existing-things-are-really-one-we-regard-those-that-are-beautiful/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Now, when ordinary people attempt to find happiness, I am not sure whether the happiness is really happiness or not. I study what ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/now-when-ordinary-people-attempt-to-find-happiness-i-am-not-sure/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Words exist because of meaning; once you’ve gotten the meaning, you can forget the words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/words-exist-because-of-meaning-once-you-ve-gotten-the-meaning-you-can/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Easy is right. Begin right and you are easy. Continue easy and you are right. The right way to go easy is to forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/easy-is-right-begin-right-and-you-are-easy-continue-easy-and-you-are/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Hence it demands the emptiness of all the faculties. And when the faculties are empty, then the whole being listens. There is then a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/hence-it-demands-the-emptiness-of-all-the-faculties-and-when-the/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Everything has what is innate,everything has what is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/everything-has-what-is-innate-everything-has-what-is-necessary/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Where can I find a man who has forgotten words, so I can have a few words with him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/where-can-i-find-a-man-who-has-forgotten-words-so-i-can-have-a-few/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Standards are different for all things, so the standard set by man is by no means the only 'certain' standard. If you mistake what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/standards-are-different-for-all-things-so-the-standard-set-by-man-is/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/zhuangzi/#itemlist", "name": "7 Empty Quotes By Zhuangzi", "numberOfItems": 7, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a man is crossing the river and an empty boat collides with his skiff, even though he is a bad tempered man he will not become very angry. But if he sees a man in the other boat he will scream and shout and curse at the man to steer clear. If you can empty your own boat crossing the river of the world, no one will oppose you, no one will seek to harm you. 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And when the faculties are empty, then the whole being listens. There is then a direct grasp of what is right there before you that can never be heard with the ear or understood with the mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhuangzi" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/hence-it-demands-the-emptiness-of-all-the-faculties-and-when-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/zhuangzi-1341_demand_hence-it-demands-the-emptiness-of-all-th_138583.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/zhuangzi-1341_demand_hence-it-demands-the-emptiness-of-all-th_138583.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/zhuangzi-1341_demand_hence-it-demands-the-emptiness-of-all-th_138583.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hence it demands the emptiness of all the faculties. 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Be empty, that is all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhuangzi" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/do-not-seek-fame-do-not-make-plans-do-not-be-absorbed-by-activities/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f51/zhuangzi-1341_activity_do-not-seek-fame-do-not-make-plans-do-no_179577.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f51/zhuangzi-1341_activity_do-not-seek-fame-do-not-make-plans-do-no_179577.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f51/zhuangzi-1341_activity_do-not-seek-fame-do-not-make-plans-do-no_179577.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do not seek fame. Do not make plans. Do not be absorbed by activities. Do not think that you know. 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So when the faculties are empty, the heart is full of light.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhuangzi" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/look-at-this-window-it-is-nothing-but-a-hole-in-the-wall-but-because/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/zhuangzi-1341_emptiness_look-at-this-window-it-is-nothing-but-a_2245678.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/zhuangzi-1341_emptiness_look-at-this-window-it-is-nothing-but-a_2245678.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/zhuangzi-1341_emptiness_look-at-this-window-it-is-nothing-but-a_2245678.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Look at this window: it is nothing but a hole in the wall, but because of it the whole room is full of…” — Zhuangzi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Make your will one! Don't listen with your ears, listen with your mind. No, don't listen with your mind, but listen with your spirit. Listening stops with the ears, the mind stops with recognition, but spirit is empty- and waits on all things. The Way gathers in emptiness alone. Emptiness is the fasting of the mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhuangzi" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/make-your-will-one-don-t-listen-with-your-ears-listen-with-your-mind/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/zhuangzi-1341_all-things_make-your-will-one-don-t-listen-with-you_2510194.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/zhuangzi-1341_all-things_make-your-will-one-don-t-listen-with-you_2510194.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e0/zhuangzi-1341_all-things_make-your-will-one-don-t-listen-with-you_2510194.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Make your will one! Don't listen with your ears, listen with your mind. 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