And a lake sparrow laughed, and said: Pray, what may that creature be going to do? I rise but a few yards in the air and settle down again, after flying around among the reeds. That is as much as any one would want to fly. Now, wherever can this creature be going to?" Such, indeed, is the difference between small and great.

故夫知效一官，行比一乡，德合一君，而征一国者，其自视也，亦若此矣。而宋荣子犹然笑之。且举世誉之而不加劝，举世非之而不加沮，定乎内外之分，辩乎荣辱之境，斯已矣。彼其於世，未数数然也；虽然，犹有未树也。

Take, for instance, a man who creditably fills some small office, or whose influence spreads over a village, or whose character pleases a certain prince. His opinion of himself will be much the same as that lake sparrow's. The philosopher Yung of Sung would laugh at such a one. If the whole world flattered him, he would not be affected thereby, nor if the whole world blamed him would he be dissuaded from what he was doing. For Yung can distinguish between essence and superficialities, and understand what is true honor and shame. Such men are rare in their generation. But even he has not established himself.

夫列子御风而行，泠然善也，旬有五日而后反，彼於致福者，未数数然也；此虽免乎行，犹有所待者也。

Now Liehtse could ride upon the wind. Sailing happily in the cool breeze, he would go on for fifteen days before his return. Among mortals who attain happiness, such a man is rare. Yet although Liehtse could dispense with walking, he would still have to depend upon something.

若夫乘天地之正，而御六气之辩，以游无穷者，彼且恶乎待哉？

As for one who is charioted upon the eternal fitness of Heaven and Earth, driving before him the changing elements as his team to roam through the realms of the Infinite, upon what, then, would such a one have need to depend?

故曰：“至人无己，神人无功，圣人无名。”



庄子以四个层次，说明有待而无待之不同层面：

第一个层次是「知效一官，行比一乡，德合一君，而征一国者」。这种人追求荣华富贵、功名利禄，以此津津自喜，自以为成就非凡。然庄子反将此类之人置于最低之层次，盖其留滞于功名利禄，生命为外在爵禄所左右，有如斥鴳之小鸟，为一小知小见之人。

第二层次是如宋荣子「举世而誉之而不加劝，举世而非之而不加沮，定乎内外之分，辩乎荣辱之竟，斯已矣。」宋荣子将生命局囿于一己之内在，而轻忽外物，故曰「定内外之分」，而嘲笑追求爵名利禄之人。但是庄子认为这些人虽忘怀功名利禄，亦局于一己之内在，与世隔绝，而不得超脱，故言「彼其于世未数数然也。虽然，犹未有树也。」

第三层次则是如「列子御风而行，泠然善也，旨有五日而后反。」列子能脱却形体之拘累，超越自我，了无罣碍，故能身轻如燕，随风遨翔，而免于形累，然无风则不得行。故庄子认为「此虽免乎行，犹有所待者也。」，即在于其虽摆脱形体之拘限，仍为外在自然之气—风—所左右。

第四层次，即庄子认为最理想的人生应该是「乘天地之正，而御六气之辩，以游无穷者。」庄子认为唯有如此，才能到达无待之境，才能以天地自然之道为己任，置身于六气变化之流，与自然世界合而为一，宇宙即我，我即宇宙，融合无间，毫无分别对待，故曰无待。唯此无待，方为逍遥。「故曰，至人无己，神人无功，圣人无名。」