Liezi Quotes
Liezi, also known as Lie Yukou, was a Chinese Taoist philosopher of the fifth century BC, traditionally regarded as one of the three foundational thinkers of philosophical Taoism alongside Lao Tzu and Zhuangzi. The text that bears his name, the Liezi, is a collection of Taoist parables, anecdotes, and short philosophical dialogues, surviving in a redaction probably compiled in the third or fourth century AD. The quotes below are attributed to Liezi, organized by topic.
Liezi on Knowledge
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Attributed to Liezi:
“Not knowing how far one's words may travel, one should not waste them on the careless.”
Liezi on Life
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Attributed to Liezi:
“Those who dream of feasting awake to lamentation.”
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Attributed to Liezi:
“He who has no concern for life and death, what can move him?”
Liezi on Mind
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Attributed to Liezi:
“When the heart is at peace, the body is at ease.”
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Attributed to Liezi:
“The man who has no opinions has nothing to defend, and so cannot be defeated.”
Liezi on Nature
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Attributed to Liezi:
“Heaven and earth do not act with intention, yet all things flourish.”