--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A grub in filth is dirty, but it changes…" description: "\"A grub in filth is dirty, but it changes into a cicada and sips dew in the autumn breeze. Rotting plants have no luster, but they turn into foxfire and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/zicheng-hong-7031_autumn_a-grub-in-filth-is-dirty-but-it-changes_2882358.jpg" --- # A grub in filth is dirty, but it changes into a cicada and… ![“A grub in filth is dirty, but it changes into a cicada and sips dew in the autumn breeze. Rotting plants have no luster, but they turn into foxfire and glow in the summer moonlight. So we know that purity emerges from impurity, and light is born from darkness.” quote by Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/zicheng-hong-7031_autumn_a-grub-in-filth-is-dirty-but-it-changes_2882358.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/zicheng-hong-7031_autumn_a-grub-in-filth-is-dirty-but-it-changes_2882358.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/def/zicheng-hong-7031_autumn_a-grub-in-filth-is-dirty-but-it-changes_2882358.jpg) > “A grub in filth is dirty, but it changes into a cicada and sips dew in the autumn breeze. Rotting plants have no luster, but they turn into foxfire and glow in the summer moonlight. So we know that purity emerges from impurity, and light is born from darkness.” [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Impurity transforms into purity; darkness yields light, showing growth from decay. **In simple terms:** Bad can become good. Key Takeaway Embrace transformation through hardship. Themes nature metaphor spirituality Mood inspirational reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - environmental recovery - creative writing Key Concepts cycle of renewal alchemy hope Questions to Reflect On - What personal “filth” can you transform? - How does darkness foster creativity? A Different Perspective Not all decay leads to beauty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autumn/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Breeze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breeze/) [Cicadas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cicadas/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dew/) [Dirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty/) [Filth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filth/) [Filth Dirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filth-dirty-4002110/) [Grub Filth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grub-filth-4002108/) [Impurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impurity/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Luster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luster/) [Moonlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moonlight/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Purity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purity/) [Rotting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rotting/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [Soil with a lot of manure in it produces abundant crops; water that is too clear has no fish. Therefore, enlightened people should maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/soil-with-a-lot-of-manure-in-it-produces-abundant-crops-water-that-is/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Nothing in the cry of cicadas suggests they are about to die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/nothing-in-the-cry-of-cicadas-suggests-they-are-about-to-die/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Calm and serene The sound of a cicada Penetrates the rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/calm-and-serene-the-sound-of-a-cicada-penetrates-the-rock/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [I guess I felt attached to my weakness. My pain and suffering too. Summer light, the smell of a breeze, the sound of cicadas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-guess-i-felt-attached-to-my-weakness-my-pain-and-suffering-too/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The heat is searing and superb. The paddocks surrounding the town are bleached blond. The distant ring-barked gums, mile after mile, wriggle in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-porter/the-heat-is-searing-and-superb-the-paddocks-surrounding-the-town-are/) [Hal Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-porter/) > [“The cicadas, as if they were wired on the same circuit, suddenly filled the garden with a loud burst of celebration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-carey/the-cicadas-as-if-they-were-wired-on-the-same-circuit-suddenly-filled/) [Peter Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-carey/) > [“But now I wanted nothing more than to be the girl so free that fireflies shined as her night-lights, cicadas sang her symphonies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meagan-church/but-now-i-wanted-nothing-more-than-to-be-the-girl-so-free-that/) [Meagan Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meagan-church/) > [Don't buy society's definition of success. Because it's not working for anyone. It's not working for women, it's not working for men, it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/don-t-buy-society-s-definition-of-success-because-it-s-not-working/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [“Nobody was speaking. Only the cicadas continued their whine, indifferent to human tragedies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-izzo/nobody-was-speaking-only-the-cicadas-continued-their-whine/) [Jean-Claude Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-izzo/) > [Counting stars by candlelight all are dim but one is bright; the spiral light of Venus rising first and shining best, from the northwest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/counting-stars-by-candlelight-all-are-dim-but-one-is-bright-the/) [Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/) > [Mama used to tell us a story about a cicada sitting high in a tree. It chirps and drinks in dew, oblivious to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/mama-used-to-tell-us-a-story-about-a-cicada-sitting-high-in-a-tree-it/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [In White Summer, Joelle Biele exhibits a Roethke-like affinity with nature and natures creatures. At times a miniaturist, Biele constructs exquisite addresses to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-spires/in-white-summer-joelle-biele-exhibits-a-roethke-like-affinity-with/) [Elizabeth Spires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-spires/) > [Again and again, the cicada's untiring cry pierced the sultry summer air like a needle at work on thick cotton cloth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/again-and-again-the-cicada-s-untiring-cry-pierced-the-sultry-summer/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Do you know the legend about cicadas? They say they are the souls of poets who cannot keep quiet because, when they were alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/do-you-know-the-legend-about-cicadas-they-say-they-are-the-souls-of/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [I closed my eyes and listened to the occasional chirps of tiny birds hidden in the trees around us, the bubbling of water over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-kirby/i-closed-my-eyes-and-listened-to-the-occasional-chirps-of-tiny-birds/) [Jessi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-kirby/) ## More by Zicheng Hong > [In the mind engaged in struggling with hardship, one always finds something delightful. The sorrow of disappointment arises in the complacency of satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-the-mind-engaged-in-struggling-with-hardship-one-always-finds/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [People are considered pure of heart when they do not approach power and pomp; but those who can be near without being affected are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/people-are-considered-pure-of-heart-when-they-do-not-approach-power/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Blessings often give rise to injury, so be careful when things are going your way. Success may be achieved after failure, so don't just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/blessings-often-give-rise-to-injury-so-be-careful-when-things-are/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Human affairs are like a chess game. Only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/human-affairs-are-like-a-chess-game-only-those-who-do-not-take-it/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Public behavior is nurtured in private; earthshaking measures come form careful steps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/public-behavior-is-nurtured-in-private-earthshaking-measures-come/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Even if you do no work that is particularly lofty or far-reaching, if you can shed mundane feelings, that is a great achievement. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/even-if-you-do-no-work-that-is-particularly-lofty-or-far-reaching-if/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [When one is not slipshod in small matters, not hypocritical in secret, and not reckless in disappointment, only then is one a true hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/when-one-is-not-slipshod-in-small-matters-not-hypocritical-in-secret/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [If those who give are conscious of their own generosity and those who receive feel indebted, they are no longer family but rather strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/if-those-who-give-are-conscious-of-their-own-generosity-and-those-who/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [In whatever you do, if you leave a sense of incompleteness, then Creation cannot resent you, ghosts and spirits cannot harm you. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-whatever-you-do-if-you-leave-a-sense-of-incompleteness-then/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [The road of truth is broad; set the mind on it, and you feel expansive openness and broad clarity. The road of human desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/the-road-of-truth-is-broad-set-the-mind-on-it-and-you-feel-expansive/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [When you are constantly hearing offensive words and always have some irritating matter in mind, only then do you have a whetstone for character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/when-you-are-constantly-hearing-offensive-words-and-always-have-some/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Do not think about whatever service you may have done for others; think about what you may have done to offend them. Don't forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/do-not-think-about-whatever-service-you-may-have-done-for-others/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Those who trust others will find that not everyone is necessarily sincere, but they will be sincere themselves. Those who suspect others will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/those-who-trust-others-will-find-that-not-everyone-is-necessarily/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [When water isn't rippled, it is naturally still. When a mirror isn't clouded, it is clear of itself. So the mind is not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/when-water-isn-t-rippled-it-is-naturally-still-when-a-mirror-isn-t/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [You should be forgiving when others make mistakes, but not when the mistakes are in you. You should be patient under duress yourself, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/you-should-be-forgiving-when-others-make-mistakes-but-not-when-the/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) [Explore all 95 Zicheng Hong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) ## More Autumn quotes > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [The American spring is by no means so agreeable as the American autumn; both move with faltering step, and slow; but this lingering pace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-trollope/the-american-spring-is-by-no-means-so-agreeable-as-the-american/) [Frances Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-trollope/) > [“Flowers that had bloomed brilliant from spring through autumn blackened under the killing frost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/flowers-that-had-bloomed-brilliant-from-spring-through-autumn/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“FALL I've never liked orange not even a hint of yellow though that doesn't mean I'm derange, you know. but it's still a riddle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kynna-claire/fall-i-ve-never-liked-orange-not-even-a-hint-of-yellow-though-that/) [Kynna Claire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kynna-claire/) > [The trees change their voices in autumn as well as their shapes. No longer do they whisper to one another in muffled tones as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience-strong/the-trees-change-their-voices-in-autumn-as-well-as-their-shapes-no/) [Patience Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience-strong/) > [The measured blood beats out the year's delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/the-measured-blood-beats-out-the-year-s-delay/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [“The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last for ever. Even on the most beautiful days in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-crickets-felt-it-was-their-duty-to-warn-everybody-that-summertime/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-found-himself-wondering-at-times-especially-in-the-autumn-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Easter blessings All life’s sacrifices like autumn leaves awaken our senses and power to love and be whole Our Mother Earth, Our Father Sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/easter-blessings-all-life-s-sacrifices-like-autumn-leaves-awaken-our/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [The lush green of the fields became a rich gold that swayed sturdily under the wind and fell at last before the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ostenso/the-lush-green-of-the-fields-became-a-rich-gold-that-swayed-sturdily/) [Martha Ostenso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ostenso/) > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) > [“Autumn eats its leaf out of my hand: we are friends. From the nuts we shell time and we teach it to walk: then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/autumn-eats-its-leaf-out-of-my-hand-we-are-friends-from-the-nuts-we/) [Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [We must learn to do economic work from all who know how, no matter who they are. We must esteem them as teachers, learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-must-learn-to-do-economic-work-from-all-who-know-how-no-matter-who/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) [Browse all 1,210 Autumn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autumn/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A grub in filth is dirty, but it changes into a cicada and sips dew in the autumn breeze. Rotting plants have no luster, but they turn into foxfire and glow in the summer moonlight. 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