Liezi Quotes on Life
The Liezi, the Taoist text attributed to the philosopher of that name, treats life as a brief and wondrous passage to be met with spontaneity rather than grasping, and the quotes gathered here convey that spirit. Human existence is imagined as a journey, in which, as guests, we linger for a while in this realm before we depart for another. The text prizes a way of living in which the self dissolves into experience, so that the traveller who forgets he is travelling finds every blade of grass, every mountain, and every lake alive and part of himself. Its counsel is to accept life as it comes and not to be greedy for it, since life and death come of their own. Several of these passages take the parable form characteristic of the text.
Quotes
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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?”
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“Our time in this world is a journey through the cycle we call life. As guests, we linger for a while in this realm before we depart for another. And who can tell how long this traveler will stay in the next realm before embarking on another visit to the realm of the living?”
Wikiquote -
“Travel is such a wonderful experience! Especially when you forget you are traveling. Then you will enjoy whatever you see and do. Those who look into themselves when they travel will not think about what they see. In fact, there is no distinction between the viewer and the seen. You experience everything with the totality of yourself, so that every blade of grass, every mountain, every lake is alive and is a part of you.”
Wikiquote -
“Life and death will come of their own. Why be greedy about life and afraid of death?”
Passage 70:The King Who Wanted to Live Forever -
“When you live, you should accept life and let it run its course. When you die, you should accept death and go to it peacefully.”
Passage 79:Everyone Must Die Sometime -
“Life and death come by themselves. We should let them run their course and not try to speed or delay them.”
Passage 79:Everyone Must Die Sometime -
“If heaven does not know, how can mortals know? If heaven does not bless you, crying won’t help. If we all weep together, Will it lengthen life and chase away death? Even doctors and shamans arc not miracle workers.”
Passage 66:The Three Doctors