Zhuangzi

On a shirt

Every line we've sourced

1. If the water isn't deep, it can't carry a big boat.

   "且夫水之積也不厚，則負大舟也无力。"

   Zhuangzi 1 (Enjoyment in Untroubled Ease), our translation from the Greek

2. A whole forest to nest in. The wren needs one branch.

   "鷦鷯巢於深林，不過一枝"

   Zhuangzi 1 (Enjoyment in Untroubled Ease), our translation from the Greek

3. No axe comes for what has no use. What could trouble it?

   "不夭斤斧，物无害者，无所可用，安所困苦哉？"

   Zhuangzi 1 (Enjoyment in Untroubled Ease), our translation from the Greek

4. Am I Zhuang dreaming a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming Zhuang?

   "不知周之夢爲胡蝶與？胡蝶之夢爲周與？"

   Zhuangzi 2 (The Adjustment of Controversies), our translation from the Greek

5. Life has a limit. Knowledge has none.

   "吾生也有涯，而知也无涯。"

   Zhuangzi 3 (Nourishing the Lord of Life), our translation from the Greek

6. Nineteen years, thousands of oxen, and the blade still looks new.

   "今臣之刀，十九年矣，所解數千牛矣，而刀刃若新發於硎。"

   Zhuangzi 3 (Nourishing the Lord of Life), our translation from the Greek

7. Slip the edge into the gaps and there's always room.

   "彼節者有間，而刀刃者无厚，以无厚入有間"

   Zhuangzi 3 (Nourishing the Lord of Life), our translation from the Greek

8. Follow the grain nature gave it.

   "依乎天理"

   Zhuangzi 3 (Nourishing the Lord of Life), our translation from the Greek

9. Everyone knows the use of the useful. Few see the use of the useless.

   "人皆知有用之用，而莫知无用之用也。"

   Zhuangzi 4 (Man in the World, Associated with Other Men), our translation from the Greek

10. You can't see yourself in running water. Only in still water.

    "人莫鑑於流水，而鑑於止水。"

    Zhuangzi 5 (The Seal of Virtue Complete), our translation from the Greek

11. Stranded fish spit to keep each other wet. Better to swim free and forget.

    "泉涸，魚相與處於陸，相呴以濕 ... 不如相忘於江湖。"

    Zhuangzi 6 (The Great and Most Honoured Master), our translation from the Greek

12. Use your mind like a mirror. Reflect everything. Hold nothing.

    "至人之用心若鏡，不將不迎，應而不藏，故能勝物而不傷。"

    Zhuangzi 7 (The Normal Course for Rulers and Kings), our translation from the Greek

13. Still water shows every hair. Imagine a still mind.

    "水靜，則明燭鬚眉 ... 水靜猶明，而況精神？"

    Zhuangzi 13 (The Way of Heaven), our translation from the Greek

14. Not too slow, not too fast. The hands get it. Words can't.

    "不徐不疾，得之於手而應於心，口不能言"

    Zhuangzi 13 (The Way of Heaven), our translation from the Greek

15. Don't talk ocean with a frog in a well.

    "井蛙不可以語於海者，拘於墟也。"

    Zhuangzi 17 (The Floods of Autumn), our translation from the Greek

16. You're not a fish. How do you know fish are happy?

    "子非魚，安知魚之樂？"

    Zhuangzi 17 (The Floods of Autumn), our translation from the Greek

17. Keep your temple. I'll drag my tail in the mud.

    "往矣！吾將曳尾於塗中。"

    Zhuangzi 17 (The Floods of Autumn), our translation from the Greek

18. Every river runs into the sea, and the sea never fills.

    "天下之水，莫大於海，萬川歸之，不知何時止，而不盈"

    Zhuangzi 17 (The Floods of Autumn), our translation from the Greek

19. Calm as a wooden rooster. No rival dares to fight.

    "望之似木雞矣，其德全矣。異雞无敢應者，反走矣。"

    Zhuangzi 19 (The Full Understanding of Life), our translation from the Greek

20. Down with the whirl, up with the surge. Follow the water's way.

    "與齊俱入，與汩偕出，從水之道，而不爲私焉。"

    Zhuangzi 19 (The Full Understanding of Life), our translation from the Greek

21. Good swimmers learn fast. They forget the water.

    "善游者數能，忘水也。"

    Zhuangzi 19 (The Full Understanding of Life), our translation from the Greek

22. Play for clay and you're sharp. Play for gold and you choke.

    "以瓦注者巧，以鉤注者憚，以黃金注者㱪，其巧一也，而有所矜，則重外也。"

    Zhuangzi 19 (The Full Understanding of Life), our translation from the Greek

23. Undivided focus turns skill uncanny.

    "用志不分，乃凝於神"

    Zhuangzi 19 (The Full Understanding of Life), our translation from the Greek

24. The straightest tree is cut first. The sweetest well runs dry first.

    "直木先伐，甘井先竭。"

    Zhuangzi 20 (The Tree on the Mountain), our translation from the Greek

25. Good friendship is plain as water.

    "且君子之交淡若水"

    Zhuangzi 20 (The Tree on the Mountain), our translation from the Greek

26. An empty boat hits yours and you don't get mad. Be the empty boat.

    "有虛船來觸舟，雖有褊心之人，不怒 ... 人能虛己以遊世，其孰能害之？"

    Zhuangzi 20 (The Tree on the Mountain), our translation from the Greek

27. A life is a white horse flashing past a crack in the wall.

    "人生天地之間，若白駒之過郤，忽然而已。"

    Zhuangzi 22 (Knowledge Rambling in the North), our translation from the Greek

28. Catch the fish, forget the trap. Get the meaning, forget the words.

    "荃者所以在魚，得魚而忘荃。 ... 言者所以在意，得意而忘言。"

    Zhuangzi 26 (What Comes from Without), our translation from the Greek