To stop leaving tracks is easy. Not to walk upon the ground is hard.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Avoiding consequences or traces is simple, but avoiding involvement in the world entirely is difficult.
- In plain terms
- You can hide your marks easily, but you cannot stop living life.
- What can you take from it?
- Engagement is inevitable; focus on how you engage rather than trying to opt out.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can you truly exist without leaving an impact?
- Is avoiding the ground a form of living?
Another view
It oversimplifies the possibility of withdrawal through meditation or isolation.
More from Zhuangzi
Those who value what is on the outside are clumsy on the inside.
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