--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great understanding is broad and…" description: "\"Great understanding is broad and unhurried; little understanding is cramped and busy\" — Zhuangzi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/zhuangzi-1341_broads_great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurri_3196436.jpg" --- # Great understanding is broad and unhurried; little… ![“Great understanding is broad and unhurried; little understanding is cramped and busy” quote by Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/zhuangzi-1341_broads_great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurri_3196436.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/zhuangzi-1341_broads_great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurri_3196436.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/zhuangzi-1341_broads_great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurri_3196436.jpg) > “Great understanding is broad and unhurried; little understanding is cramped and busy” [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Broad, relaxed understanding allows depth; narrow, hurried understanding stays shallow. **In simple terms:** Take time to understand fully. Key Takeaway Cultivate patience in learning. Themes wisdom patience depth Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - learning new skills - problem solving - decision making - teaching Key Concepts philosophy cognitive style Questions to Reflect On - When have you rushed understanding? - How can you create space for deeper insight? A Different Perspective Rushed understanding may miss critical nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [“Great understanding is broad and unhurried; little understanding is cramped and busy. Great words are clear and limpid; little words are shrill and quarrelsome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuang-chou/great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurried-little-understanding-is/) Chuang Chou > [I think you have a great understanding of the game of football the more you go through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-herbert/i-think-you-have-a-great-understanding-of-the-game-of-football-the/) [Justin Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-herbert/) > [“Children should show great understanding towards grown-ups”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/children-should-show-great-understanding-towards-grown-ups/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Great pain, when it is honored from the heart, opens into great understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/great-pain-when-it-is-honored-from-the-heart-opens-into-great/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [For me, an ideal relationship is about supporting each other and having great understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/for-me-an-ideal-relationship-is-about-supporting-each-other-and/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [“He who is slow to anger has great understanding,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kendrick/he-who-is-slow-to-anger-has-great-understanding/) [Alex Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kendrick/) > [Inner Nature, when relied on, cannot be fooled. But many people do not look at it or listen to it, and consequently do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/inner-nature-when-relied-on-cannot-be-fooled-but-many-people-do-not/) [Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/) > [It is not credible that any one should possess so little understanding as to desire the faith and yet be destitute of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-credible-that-any-one-should-possess-so-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do you know, my son, with what little understanding the world is ruled?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-julius-iii/do-you-know-my-son-with-what-little-understanding-the-world-is-ruled/) Pope Julius III > [We still have very little understanding of how we can tweak form or shape at the genetic level. We certainly haven't unlocked those secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-joachim/we-still-have-very-little-understanding-of-how-we-can-tweak-form-or/) [Mitchell Joachim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-joachim/) > [Too often in Washington we tend to see foreign policy as an abstraction, with little understanding of what we are committing our country to:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/too-often-in-washington-we-tend-to-see-foreign-policy-as-an/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [It is not enough to say that we cannot know or judge because all the information is not in. The process of gathering knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/it-is-not-enough-to-say-that-we-cannot-know-or-judge-because-all-the/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [People of little understanding are most apt to be angry when their sense is called into question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/people-of-little-understanding-are-most-apt-to-be-angry-when-their/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Some of the most beautiful and fulfilling things in life are often things that we have very little understanding of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-of-the-most-beautiful-and-fulfilling-things-in-life-are-often/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Unless we know history, we will have little understanding of how far we have come, how we got here, and what still needs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dreier/unless-we-know-history-we-will-have-little-understanding-of-how-far/) Peter Dreier ## 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/) [Explore all 243 Zhuangzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) ## More Broads quotes > [Thoroughly understand what it is to understand, and not only will you understand the broad lines of all there is to be understood but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/thoroughly-understand-what-it-is-to-understand-and-not-only-will-you/) [Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/) > [We'll walk together holding hands, and kiss in broad daylight, and love each other as much as we want to, and no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-ll-walk-together-holding-hands-and-kiss-in-broad-daylight-and-love/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The "family" has clearly emerged anew in the late 1970s as a central subject for discussion, debate, research and writing in bothscholarly and popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/the-family-has-clearly-emerged-anew-in-the-late-1970s-as-a-central/) Sheila Kamerman > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [If you know the differences between an oak and a poplar, a spruce and a pine, down to the needles... you are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-allen-lawson/if-you-know-the-differences-between-an-oak-and-a-poplar-a-spruce-and/) [T. Allen Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-allen-lawson/) > [Particularly the broad masses of the people can be moved only by the power of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/particularly-the-broad-masses-of-the-people-can-be-moved-only-by-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [So the first thing I learned about how to get superior performance is not to buy stocks that are near their lows, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-neil/so-the-first-thing-i-learned-about-how-to-get-superior-performance-is/) [William O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-neil/) > [Broad-based, inclusive growth is what we need in America, not more advantages for people at the very top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/broad-based-inclusive-growth-is-what-we-need-in-america-not-more/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Jubilee 2000 is a broad coalition which has moved the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/jubilee-2000-is-a-broad-coalition-which-has-moved-the-earth/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [As science is more and more subject to grave misuse as well as to use for human benefit it has also become the scientist's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-science-is-more-and-more-subject-to-grave-misuse-as-well-as-to-use/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 956 Broads quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Great understanding is broad and unhurried; little understanding is cramped and busy", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhuangzi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurried-little-understanding-is-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Broads" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurried-little-understanding-is-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/zhuangzi-1341_broads_great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurri_3196436.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/zhuangzi-1341_broads_great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurri_3196436.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e8/zhuangzi-1341_broads_great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurri_3196436.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Great understanding is broad and unhurried; little understanding is cramped and busy” — Zhuangzi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Zhuangzi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Great understanding is broad and unhurried;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurried-little-understanding-is-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/great-understanding-is-broad-and-unhurried-little-understanding-is-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```