Alan Watts

Alan Watts

Alan Wilson Watts

1915-1973 • British-American

ZenTaoismPerennial Philosophy

British philosopher who interpreted Eastern philosophy for Western audiences. His lectures and books made Zen accessible to millions.

Key Works

  • The Way of Zen
  • The Book
  • Lectures
  • Out of Your Mind
112

quotes in library

Quotes by Alan Watts

112 quotes
You are an aperture through which the universe is looking at and exploring itself.
unityLectures
This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now.
presenceLectures
Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun.
joyNature, Man and Woman
Everything you experience is yourself.
unityThe Book
You are an aperture through which the universe is looking at and exploring itself.
identityOut of Your Mind
This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now.
presenceThe Wisdom of Insecurity
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
flowThe Wisdom of Insecurity
Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.
identityThe Book
Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.
non-actionTao: The Watercourse Way
Life is a dance, and when you are dancing you are not intent on getting somewhere.
flowThe Way of Zen
The future is a concept. It doesn't exist.
presenceOut of Your Mind
To have faith is to trust yourself to the water.
trustThe Wisdom of Insecurity
Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun.
playThe Way of Zen
You are something the whole universe is doing in the same way that a wave is something that the whole ocean is doing.
unityThe Book
The meaning of life is just to be alive.
meaningThe Wisdom of Insecurity
It is not so obvious. People spend tremendous lives supposing that life must have a meaning.
meaningThe Wisdom of Insecurity
To go out of your mind at least once a day is tremendously important.
freedomOut of Your Mind
Every intelligent individual wants to know what makes him tick, and yet is at once fascinated and frustrated by the fact that oneself is the most difficult of all things to know.
self-knowledgeThe Book
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
changeLectures
Page 1 of 6Next

Explore More Teachers

Discover wisdom from 500+ spiritual teachers across all traditions.

Browse All Teachers