this is actually a paraphrasing of Zhuangzi`s work a lesser known. contemporary of Lao-Tze and actually a fan of the same and is considered taoistic. you can read the entire short story here (it's the very bottom paragraph) http://www.daoisopen.com/ZZ1.html
this is actually a story with a slightly deeper meaning than what this quote you posted delivers and i think it's a common missreading.
the way the first person talks about the "useless tree", it seems as though he is saying that it's beneficial to be worthless, cause if nobody needs you, nobody will "use you up" so you will grow older than the tree that was perfectly usefull to craft with. however this was actually just meant as " the first person complaining about the useless tree in his garden"
in fact what i think that story wants to say is about the reply of Zhuangzi, who kind of "shools" the first person about that we shouldn't judge so fast what's "usefull" and what's "useless". he recommends that if something is considered useless on first glance, it may just have a hidden strength and potential that we can't see yet so if we think something is useless, we should give it more space, to see what comes off of it.
or he might also say that "if something is useless, just get it out of your way so it won't bother you" but at the same time he orders him to go to the tree regularly.
that's why i love his works. it's short stories like that but they go so deep you can ponder about the meaning forever xD
very welcome :) i highly recommend readin his work. quite amazing how advanced people seemed way before our modern main stream religions. it elmost lets the religions we learn about seem trivial and overly simplistic.
Well, a board has value to someone while a twisted tree doesn't. It can't be used and no one can find a purpose for it. So the straight tree is coveted and used by people because it has value to them while the twisted tree is ignored by people and left to do its own thing.
Perhaps the quote is implying that there's a danger in being desired by too many people. Might be appropriate in our social media climate.
The tree that is twisted grows at its own pace and as life demands it. A straight that grows straight lived a life that was well lived and still is living in the life others. It's no different life it says for us to live according to God: walk the straight and narrow path. A road less taken. Many people choose the road that's easy. But the straight and narrow path is bumpy, but also have a greater reward at the end. Tree's give us life. But it's also full of wisdom as it can live for so many years. It will still be here when we're gone. A tree that becomes a pencil, money, a roof over our heads, our beds, a desk, etc still is giving us it's purpose by being of service to us. BUT, what we choose to do it depends on whether or not it lived a good life.
I think it means the one who has setbacks and hardships mature and wisens up and becomes smarter and grows and works hard so he succeeds
The one who has an easy life doesn't know the meaning of sacrifice, perseverance and hard work - so they don't have the personality traits necessary to become successful later in life and end up failing as a result even though they had more opportunities and wealth and assets than the person with a difficult life
The twisted tree goes out of it's way to do what it wants to do, uncaring about what's in it's path.
The straight tree grows tall and falls in line with the others to make a forest. But it will be seen as expendable and as just another shape in the crowd.
To me it means if you want to life a long and happy life you have to be willing to accept all the life has to offer, all the twists and turns. The straight tree I think represents someone who is unwilling to bend for anything or accept others ideas. You have to enjoy each and every moment of life.
To me it’s about conformity, the twisted or different tree lives how it wants, doesn’t give a fuck what other people think, enjoys life to the fullest, the straight tree does everything by the book, worried about what others will say, tries to live up to societies standards, becomes another cog in the machine or is crafted into a “board”
The proverb essentially says not to lose your individuality and independent thinking. Conformists can be the losers in the end, although it seems like nonconformists are the losers now.
I see it as people who have experienced hardships in life as having more reward, whereas those who have sort of led a simple life where they haven't really done anything to grow as being unfulfilled and stagnant.
The twisted tree enjoys life even when no wants it But the straight tree is cut up a used and the tree is destroyed I. Mean when people don't value something doesn't make it worthless !!!
The tree that grows the typical way like all the other trees do, ends up being what it doesn't want to be, while the twisted tree went its own way, now it's living its life the way it wants?
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