I know the joy of fishes in the river through my own joy, as I go walking along the same river.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- I understand the joy of the fish because I share the same river and feel the same joy.
- In plain terms
- I know the fish's happiness because I experience the river myself.
- What can you take from it?
- Empathy arises from shared experience.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does sharing a setting affect your understanding of others?
- Can you feel another creature's joy?
Another view
Joy of others may not always be fully graspable through one's own feelings.
More from Zhuangzi
He who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a sage.
Permalink to quote #13 If a made-up mind counts as a teacher, then who doesn't have a teacher?
Permalink to quote #15 Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.
Permalink to quote #12
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