--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man is crossing the river and an…" description: "\"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..." 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… ![“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…” quote by Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/zhuangzi-1341_angry_if-a-man-is-crossing-the-river-and-an-em_27036.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/zhuangzi-1341_angry_if-a-man-is-crossing-the-river-and-an-em_27036.jpg) [Open 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 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. Thus is the perfect man - his boat is empty.” [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. True peace arises from letting go of personal grievances and expectations, allowing one to navigate life's challenges without hostility. **In simple terms:** Letting go eliminates conflict. Key Takeaway Emptying ego prevents opposition. Themes inner peace detachment non-attachment self-awareness humility Mood calm reflective serene Type philosophical didactic maxim When to use this quote - facing criticism - encountering aggression - dealing with rivalry - navigating social tension Key Concepts ego perception conflict Practical Applications - meditation practice - conflict resolution training Questions to Reflect On - How does letting go affect personal power? - What situations might require a more active stance? A Different Perspective Some argue that assertiveness, not emptiness, is needed to protect oneself. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Bad temper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-temper/) [Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Perfect man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-man/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“If a man crosses a river and an empty boat collides with his own skiff, Even though he be bad tempered man He will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuang-tzu-2/if-a-man-crosses-a-river-and-an-empty-boat-collides-with-his-own/) Chuang-Tzu > [Each of us has capacities. The real trick is knowing the machinery of the boat in which you are crossing the channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/each-of-us-has-capacities-the-real-trick-is-knowing-the-machinery-of/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Yo K-Fed, the little man in the boat, he's up here! That's where he is...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-moody/yo-k-fed-the-little-man-in-the-boat-he-s-up-here-that-s-where-he-is/) [Hank Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-moody/) > [“There was a man Who made a boat To sail away And it sank.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-was-a-man-who-made-a-boat-to-sail-away-and-it-sank/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If a man is crossing a river and an empty boat collides with his own skiff, even though he be a bad-tempered man he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho-rajneesh/if-a-man-is-crossing-a-river-and-an-empty-boat-collides-with-his-own/) Osho Rajneesh > [Give a man a horse he can ride, give a man a boat he can sail; and his rank and wealth, his strength and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thomson/give-a-man-a-horse-he-can-ride-give-a-man-a-boat-he-can-sail-and-his/) [James Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thomson/) > [Life is like crossing a river. When you dive into it, there must be wave. To get you goal, you must swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ky-vanchhay/life-is-like-crossing-a-river-when-you-dive-into-it-there-must-be/) [Ky Vanchhay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ky-vanchhay/) > [Cautious, like crossing a river in the winter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/cautious-like-crossing-a-river-in-the-winter/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“He wanted to tell her that if it were simply a matter of crossing the river Styx and trading places with Beau, he'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-clare/he-wanted-to-tell-her-that-if-it-were-simply-a-matter-of-crossing-the/) [Pamela Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-clare/) > [“The story of my life doesn't exist. Does not exist. There's never any center to it. No path, no line. 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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/) > [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. 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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/) > [Do not seek fame. Do not make plans. Do not be absorbed by activities. Do not think that you know. Be aware of all…](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/) [Explore all 243 Zhuangzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) ## More Angry quotes > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. 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Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) [Browse all 3,857 Angry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@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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