The mountain trees bring about their own demises [by being useful], burning oil exhausts itself in fire [when people use it in oil lamp]. The fruits of the cinnamon tree can be eaten, hence the trees are cut down; the varnish tree is useful, hence incisions are made in it. Everyone knows the usefulness of being useful, but no one knows the usefulness of being useless.
More from Chuang Chou
Rewards and punishments are the lowest form of education.
Permalink to quote #22 Those who value what is on the outside are clumsy on the inside.
Permalink to quote #24 Resolve your mental energy into abstraction, your physical energy into action. Allow yourself to fall in with the natural order of phenomena, without admitting…
Permalink to quote #21