Day 36 · Q1: Self-Knowledge · February 5, 2026
Pause. Breathe. Begin.
I . L E C T I O
Zhuangzi
The Inner Chapters, Ch. 2
“The fish trap exists because of the fish. Once you've gotten the fish, you can forget the trap. Words exist because of meaning. Once you've gotten the meaning, you can forget the words.”
C O N T E X T
Zhuangzi, the Taoist philosopher of the 4th century BC, warns against confusing the tool with the goal. Words, concepts, and methods are all traps — useful, but ultimately to be transcended once they've served their purpose.
I I . M E D I T A T I O
“What concept or method are you clinging to that has already served its purpose?”
I I I . S C R I P T I O
Write one sentence about something you could let go of now that you've learned its lesson.
I V . C O N N E X I O
Zhuangzi raises a provocative question: can even self-knowledge become a trap? Can the practice of examination become an obstacle to living? How does this balance the Socratic imperative?
This practice exists because of readers like you.
Sustain it →Tomorrow's passage, delivered at dawn.