Blue comes from indigo, yet it's bluer than indigo.
Xunzi, Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1)
靑，取之於藍而靑於藍
Blue comes from indigo, yet it's bluer than indigo.
Xunzi, Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1)
What it means
The dye is extracted from the plant and ends up deeper than its source, just as ice ends up colder than the water it came from. Students can surpass their teachers. Where you start does not limit where you finish.
The source
"Blue comes from indigo, yet it's bluer than indigo." Xunzi said it in Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1). Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.
"靑，取之於藍而靑於藍；冰，水爲之而寒於水。"Original Chinese, Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1). Text read at zh.wikisource.org.
Who said it
Xunzi (c. 310-235 BC). Confucian thinker who held that human nature has to be shaped by effort and learning. His essay Encouraging Learning is one of the great defenses of steady practice.
Questions
- What does "Blue comes from indigo, yet it's bluer than indigo." mean?
- The dye is extracted from the plant and ends up deeper than its source, just as ice ends up colder than the water it came from. Students can surpass their teachers. Where you start does not limit where you finish.
- Who said "Blue comes from indigo, yet it's bluer than indigo."?
- Xunzi (c. 310-235 BC). Source: Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1).
- What is the original Chinese?
- 靑，取之於藍而靑於藍；冰，水爲之而寒於水。. Translated from the original Chinese by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "Blue comes from indigo, yet it's bluer than indigo." on a shirt?
- Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.
Cite this line
"Blue comes from indigo, yet it's bluer than indigo." (Xunzi, Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/blue-comes-from-indigo-yet-its-bluer-than
Filed under Self.
Wear it your way
The same line in every look it fits. Each one is printed to order on heavy cotton, same price.
More from Xunzi
- Learning must never stop.Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1)
- No half steps, no thousand miles. No little streams, no sea.Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1)
- A slow horse goes the distance by never quitting.Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1)
- Keep carving and even metal and stone give way.Xunzi, Encouraging Learning (ch. 1)
- The road may be short, but you won't arrive unless you walk.Xunzi, Self-Cultivation (ch. 2)