The purpose of a net is to catch fish. Once the fish are caught, you can forget the net. The purpose of words is to convey ideas. Once the ideas are grasped, you can forget the words.
Daoist philosopher
Zhuangzi (Book 26, External Things)
c. 4th century BCE
Found in 1 providers: grok
Cross Reference
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"If you want to be happy, be."
Humorous"A duck’s legs are short, but if we try to lengthen them, the duck will feel pain."
Strange & Unusual"The minnows swim about so freely, following the openings wherever they take them. Such is the happiness of fish."
Humorous"The mind of the perfect man is like a mirror. It grasps nothing, it refuses nothing, it receives but does not keep."
Strange & Unusual"The fish trap is for catching fish; once you've caught the fish, you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare is for catching rabbits; once you've caught the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words are f…"
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