"I have heaven and earth for my outer and inner coffin, the sun and moon for my pair of jade discs, the stars for my pearls, the myriad creatures for my farewell presents. Is anything missing from my f…"

"How do I know that wanting to live is not a mistake? How do I know that hating death is not like a man who, having left home in his youth, has forgotten the way back?"

"The true man of Tao lives as a fish lives in water: he is at home in it, but he does not know it. The true man of Tao lives as a bird lives in the air: he is at home in it, but he does not know it."

"The true man of Tao is like a child: he knows nothing, but he is full of wisdom."

"You are not a fish; how do you know what makes a fish happy?"