--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who dreams ... does not know he is…" description: "\"He who dreams ... does not know he is dreaming... . Only when he awakens does he know he has dreamt. But there is also the great awakening (ta-chiao), ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/zhuangzi-1341_awake_he-who-dreams-does-not-know-he-is-dreami_1296126.jpg" --- # He who dreams ... does not know he is dreaming... . Only… ![“He who dreams ... does not know he is dreaming... . Only when he awakens does he know he has dreamt. But there is also the great awakening (ta-chiao), and then we see that [everything] here is nothing but a great dream. Of course, the fools believe that they are already awake-what foolishness!…” quote by Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/zhuangzi-1341_awake_he-who-dreams-does-not-know-he-is-dreami_1296126.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/zhuangzi-1341_awake_he-who-dreams-does-not-know-he-is-dreami_1296126.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/zhuangzi-1341_awake_he-who-dreams-does-not-know-he-is-dreami_1296126.jpg) > “He who dreams ... does not know he is dreaming... . Only when he awakens does he know he has dreamt. But there is also the great awakening (ta-chiao), and then we see that \[everything\] here is nothing but a great dream. Of course, the fools believe that they are already awake-what foolishness! Confucius and you, both of you, are dreams; and I, who tell you this, am also a dream.” [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. Dreams and reality are indistinguishable; awakening reveals that all experience is a dream, and even teachings are illusory. **In simple terms:** Life may be a dream; waking is an illusion. Key Takeaway Question the nature of reality and your perceptions. Themes reality illusion awakening philosophy Mood contemplative enigmatic Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation - spiritual practice - critical thinking Key Concepts metaphysics skepticism selfhood Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate dream from reality? - What does awakening mean for daily life? A Different Perspective Understanding may be unsettling and lead to nihilism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakening/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Foolishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolishness/) ## Related quotes > [During our dreams we do not know we are dreaming. We may even dream of interpreting a dream. Only on waking do we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/during-our-dreams-we-do-not-know-we-are-dreaming-we-may-even-dream-of/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [The closer you get to the meaning. The sooner you'll know that you're dreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-sabbath/the-closer-you-get-to-the-meaning-the-sooner-you-ll-know-that-you-re/) [Black Sabbath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-sabbath/) > [We are asleep. Our Life is a dream. 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