Wisdom from the narrator’s voice — pearls distilled from chaos, demons, and the pilgrims’ impossible journey to India.
Each episode of Monkey closes with a brief teaching, spoken over the freeze‑frame as the credits roll. Presented here are all 52 canonical teachings from the original BBC broadcast, styled to let the wisdom speak first. Episode links are included for those who wish to revisit the source.
The Teachings
“Pride without discipline leads to downfall. Even the strongest must bow to wisdom.”
(from Episode 1: Monkey Goes Wild About Heaven)
“Compassion tempers chaos. Strength without care is no strength at all.”
(from Episode 2: Monkey Turns Nursemaid)
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
(from Episode 3: The Great Journey Begins)
“Not everything is as it seems.”
(from Episode 4: Monkey Swallows the Universe)
“Wisdom is not measured by age, but by understanding.”
(from Episode 5: The Power of Youth)
“True nature is revealed by actions, not appearances.”
(from Episode 6: Even Monsters Can Be People)
“Power without compassion leads to suffering.”
(from Episode 7: The Beginning of Wisdom)
“Lust blinds judgment. True vision comes from compassion, not desire.”
(from Episode 8: Pigsy Woos a Widow)
“Appearances deceive. True nature is revealed by actions, not looks.”
(from Episode 9: What Monkey Calls the Real World)
“Haste leads to disaster. Patience reveals the path forward.”
(from Episode 10: Pigsy’s in the Well)
“Darkness cannot exist without light. Balance is found not in choosing one, but in understanding both.”
(from Episode 11: The Difference Between Night and Day)
“Treasure offered freely is rarely free. True wealth lies in what cannot be stolen.”
(from Episode 12: Pearls Before Swine)
“Seduction and repulsion are twin faces of desire. See through both to find truth.”
(from Episode 13: The Great Horse Hunt)
“Holiness can be mimicked, but true virtue reveals itself through action, not appearance.”
(from Episode 14: The Mighty Ape)
“When trapped beneath the surface, the way out is through cooperation, not force.”
(from Episode 15: Pigsy’s Magic Trousers)
“The most fearsome face may hide the gentlest heart. Judge not by appearance, but by deed.”
(from Episode 16: The Most Monstrous Monster)
“Truth is not what we see, but what remains when illusion is stripped away.”
(from Episode 17: Truth and the Grey Gloves Devil)
“Greed devours all it touches. Restraint is the only harvest that endures.”
(from Episode 18: Land for the Locusts)
“Life cannot be hoarded or stolen. It flows freely to those who give, not those who take.”
(from Episode 19: The Fake Pilgrim)
“Coincidence is often the mask worn by design. The wise see the hand that moves unseen.”
(from Episode 20: Outrageous Coincidences)
“A crown does not make a king, nor robes a god. True leadership is earned through service, not title.”
(from Episode 21: Pigsy’s Wrongdoings)
“Fear feeds what it flees. Face the darkness with clarity, and its power dissolves.”
(from Episode 22: The Foolish Sage)
“Even blessings can become burdens when sought without wisdom. Responsibility lies not in desire, but in foresight.”
(from Episode 23: Two Little Blessings)
“Jealousy is a fire that consumes the heart. Trust extinguishes what suspicion ignites.”
(from Episode 24: The Fires of Jealousy)
“Fear is a dream we mistake for reality. Courage wakes us to truth.”
(from Episode 25: The Country of Nightmares)
“The true path has no shortcuts. The journey itself is the destination.”
(from Episode 26: The End of the Way)
“Flattery is the demon’s bait. Humility sees through the trap.”
(from Episode 27: Pigsy’s Ten Thousand Ladies)
“Fear gives the beast its fangs. Face it without trembling, and it becomes harmless.”
(from Episode 28: The Dogs of Death)
“Victory without wisdom is hollow. True success lies in knowing when to yield.”
(from Episode 29: You Win Some, You Lose Some)
“Learning begins with humility. The fool who seeks wisdom is wiser than the sage who believes he knows all.”
(from Episode 30: Pigsy Learns a Lesson)
“Balance is the foundation of life. Too much of even a good thing brings ruin.”
(from Episode 31: The Land with Two Suns)
“The past is a prison we build ourselves. Forgiveness is the key that sets us free.”
(from Episode 32: The House of the Evil Spirit)
“Reality is not what appears, but what remains when illusion dissolves. The mind awake sees truth.”
(from Episode 33: Am I Dreaming?)
“Power without compassion creates its own prison. Even emperors must answer for their deeds.”
(from Episode 34: The Tormented Emperor)
“Judgment is not imposed from above, but earned through action. We are the sum of our choices.”
(from Episode 35: Between Heaven and Hell)
“Knowledge without action is empty noise. True wisdom is lived, not spoken.”
(from Episode 36: The Foolish Philosopher)
“Identity is not what others see, but what we choose to become. We are defined by our actions, not our reflections.”
(from Episode 37: Who Am I?)
“Wisdom is not a destination, but a journey. It wears many faces, and all are true.”
(from Episode 38: What is Wisdom?)
“Youth is wasted on the young, and immortality on the foolish. Life’s meaning lies in its fleeting nature.”
(from Episode 39: The Fountain of Youth)
“Trust must be earned, but suspicion without cause creates the very betrayal it fears.”
(from Episode 40: Better the Demon You Know)
“The shadow we cast is shaped not by our strength, but by the light we block. Step aside, and darkness disappears.”
(from Episode 41: A Shadow So Huge)
“Not all invitations deserve acceptance. Knowing when to refuse is as important as knowing when to join.”
(from Episode 42: Keep on Dancing)
“Generosity without wisdom enables dependency. True compassion empowers others to stand on their own.”
(from Episode 43: Give and Take)
“Evil does not always bare its fangs. The sweetest poison is served with a smile.”
(from Episode 44: Such a Nice Monster)
“Reputation is easily tarnished but slowly rebuilt. Actions speak louder than accusations.”
(from Episode 45: The Fake Pilgrims)
“Beauty can be a cage as well as a gift. Appreciate without attachment, or become what you admire.”
(from Episode 46: Pretty as a Picture)
“Love for those we’ve lost honours their memory, but living in the past dishonours the present. Let go to truly remember.”
(from Episode 47: Mothers)
“True strength is knowing when not to fight. The warrior who seeks peace is mightier than the one who seeks victory.”
(from Episode 48: The Tenacious Tomboy)
“Not all battles are won by facing the enemy. Sometimes, turning away is the bravest choice.”
(from Episode 49: Stoned)
“Hunger can make us desperate, but it cannot make us cruel. What we choose when starving reveals who we truly are.”
(from Episode 50: Hungry Like the Wolf)
“True power serves, it does not command. The greatest ruler is one who leads without forcing others to follow.”
(from Episode 51: The Emperor of All)
“The path is the teaching. Those who seek only the destination miss the journey that shapes them.”
(from Episode 52: The End of the Line)
These teachings capture the spirit of Monkey: playful, profound, and always a little absurd.