"Mold clay into a bowl. The empty..." - Quote by Lao Tzu
Mold clay into a bowl. The empty space makes it useful.
More by Lao Tzu
More on Usefulness
“Clay is molded to form a cup, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the cup depends. Doors and windows are cut out to make a room, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the room depends. Therefore turn being into advantage, and turn non-being into utility.”
“Everything is useful which contributes to fix the principles and practices of virtue.”
“We do not make a world of our own, but fall into institutions already made, and have to accommodate ourselves to them to be useful at all.”
More on Emptiness
“Again, a smooth answer, signifying nothing.”
“In order to taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup.”
“By then I knew that everything good and bad left an emptiness when it stopped. But if it was bad, the emptiness filled up by itself. If it was good you could only fill it by finding something better.”