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About this quote

What does it mean?
Perfect people do not focus on self, spiritual people do not seek recognition for achievements, and sages do not care about their reputation.
In plain terms
Let go of self, achievement, and fame.
What can you take from it?
True greatness has no ego.

Where it applies

  • leadership
  • personal growth
  • spirituality

Putting it to work

  • act without seeking credit
  • focus on work not self

Questions to consider

  • Do you seek credit for your work?
  • How do you define success?

Another view

Recognizing achievements can sometimes motivate others.

More from Zhuangzi

  1. Our lives are limited, while knowledge is not. Pursuing the unlimited with the limited would be tiring. If you already knew that, it would be even more tiring.

    Permalink to quote #19
  2. 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
  3. Nourish your middle by accepting what cannot be avoided: that's perfection.

    Permalink to quote #18

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