The Useless Tree

Here’s a well-loved parable from Zhuangzi, often called “The Useless Tree”:

Zhuangzi and his disciple were walking through the countryside when they came across a large, old tree with sprawling branches. The tree provided ample shade, but it was so gnarled and twisted that no carpenter would bother cutting it down to use its wood.

Zhuangzi’s disciple remarked, “This tree is useless. That’s why it has grown so old.”

Zhuangzi replied, “Because it is useless, it is free to live out its natural lifespan. If it were useful, it would have been cut down long ago. Its uselessness is its greatest advantage.”

He then added, “It is the same with people. If you let go of the need to be useful or to conform to others’ expectations, you will find freedom to follow your own path.”

This parable reflects the Daoist idea of valuing simplicity, non-conformity, and naturalness over striving for productivity or utility. It challenges the common notion that usefulness is the highest virtue, suggesting instead that “uselessness” can bring peace and longevity.