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" Useless

Hui Tzu said to Chuang Tzu:
“All your teaching is centred on what has no use.”

Chuang Tzu replied:
“If you have no appreciation for what has no use,
You cannot begin to talk about what can be used.

The earth for example, is broad and vast,
But of all this expanse a man uses only a few inches
Upon which he happens to be standing.

Now suppose you suddenly take away
All that he actually is not using,
So that all around his feet a gulf
Yawns, and he stands in the Void
With nowhere solid except under each foot.
How long will he be able to use what he is using?

Hui Tzu said: “It would cease to serve any purpose.”

Chuang Tzu concluded:
“This showsThe absolute necessity
Of what has ' no use. "

Zhuangzi , The Way of Chuang Tzu (Shambhala Library)


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Zhuangzi quote : Useless<br /><br />Hui Tzu said to Chuang Tzu:<br />“All your teaching is centred on what has no use.”<br /><br />Chuang Tzu replied:<br />“If you have no appreciation for what has no use,<br />You cannot begin to talk about what can be used.<br /><br />The earth for example, is broad and vast,<br />But of all this expanse a man uses only a few inches<br />Upon which he happens to be standing.<br /><br />Now suppose you suddenly take away<br />All that he actually is not using,<br />So that all around his feet a gulf <br />Yawns, and he stands in the Void<br />With nowhere solid except under each foot.<br />How long will he be able to use what he is using?<br /><br />Hui Tzu said: “It would cease to serve any purpose.”<br /><br />Chuang Tzu concluded:<br />“This showsThe absolute necessity<br />Of what has ' no use.