Zhuangzi — "If a man is crossing a river and an empty boat collides with his own skiff, even…"

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 will not get angry. But if there is someone in the other boat, he will shout at him to steer clear. If the shout is not heard, he will shout again, and yet again, and begin to curse. And all because there is someone in the other boat. Yet if the boat was empty, he would not be angry. You can apply this to the world. If you can empty your own boat, you will be able to cross the rivers of the world, and no one will oppose you.
Zhuangzi — Zhuangzi Ancient · Daoist philosopher

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Zhuangzi, Chapter 20, 'The Mountain Tree'

Date: c. 4th century BCE

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