"Those who seek to satisfy the mind of man by hampering it with ceremonies and music and affecting charity and devotion have lost their original nature"
- Zhuangzi
About this Quote
In this quote by Zhuangzi, he is expressing his belief that attempting to satisfy the human desire for psychological fulfillment through external methods such as rituals, music, and acts of charity is a misdirected method. He recommends that such practices have been imposed onto humans and are not part of our initial nature. For that reason, Zhuangzi indicates that true mental fulfillment can only be attained by reconnecting with one's natural state, rather than relying on external aids.