Life is precious because it respects all forms of life. There are no useless things in this world, only those who do not know how to use them. Often, our benefactors are others, while our greatest enemy is ourselves. The meaning of life lies in utilizing oneself well, and the purpose lies in achieving greatness for others. The reason a spiritual path is hard to establish is often due to an unsettled mind; once a path is chosen, one must practice continuously.
1. Life is neither too long nor too short; it depends entirely on how we perform in this drama. I believe that with hard work, even a supporting character will one day become the protagonist. In this harsh and realistic society where survival of the fittest prevails, if you do not strive and fight, you will be left behind at any moment.
2. We can dodge an elephant, but we cannot dodge a fly. What makes us unhappy are often trivial matters. How much we possess is not important; being content is the key. If you do not change your mindset, no one can help you.
3. Maggie Cheung once spoke about aging: "Asians tend to care about getting old. I grew up in the UK and lived in Paris for ten years, where people don't have this concept. Why must beauty be defined by youth and a lack of wrinkles? People don't have to be beautiful, and beauty is not everything—it can be a waste of life. Beauty should be enriched with flavor, joy, and other elements to achieve a fulfilled life."
4. When tired, change your perspective on the world; when depressed, change your environment to breathe deeply; when confused, change your way of thinking; when hesitant, change your approach to choices; when feeling down, find joy in a new environment; when troubled, use different thinking to resolve it; when complaining, look at problems differently; when feeling inferior, change your attitude toward yourself. By changing your perspective, the world reveals a different face.
5. Although we live in the present, we often dwell on the past and worry about the future. Carrying the past and future along with us makes life cumbersome. Simply living in the moment—where there is no concept of right or wrong, truth or falsehood—removes the need for worry. If there is no truth or falsehood, is life not like a dream? Indeed, let us execute our lives as if they were a dream.
6. Vanity and pride are two distinct things, though often used interchangeably. A proud person is not necessarily vain. Pride is about how we view ourselves, while vanity is about how we want others to view us.
7. If you do not play in childhood, study hard in youth, set ambitions in adolescence, and start a business in mid-life, your life will wither with age. Life is brilliant through movement, fulfilling through joy, profound through thought, and lasting through sincerity in friendship.
8. Acting on emotion is often more harmful than helpful. A good temper is the best attire one can wear in social interactions. Therefore, do not act on impulse; "a moment of patience may bring peace, a step of retreat may bring a vast ocean."
9. Having tasted the bitterness of parting across the world, I do not speak of returning, as flowers are scattered. Looking at each other beneath the blossoms, not a word is said; in the green window, spring is one with the heavens. Let the longing be told by the lamp—a thread of new joy, a thousand threads of old sorrow. Most regretful is that in this world, one cannot hold onto the youthful face in the mirror or the flowers on the tree.
10. Whenever a woman asks a man, "What gift do you want for your birthday this year?", it is a headache for the man. He truly cannot think of what he lacks, for what he lacks is often something a woman cannot afford.
11. I do not know how long my life will be, so I tell myself every day: the person I care about most in this life is you! Because of you, I feel the warmth of the world. When you are here, you are everything; when you are gone, everything is you! In the busyness of life, everyone has their difficulties; in reality, everyone has their sorrows. Life is full of entanglements and helplessness. Therefore, some things can be taken seriously, but do not be overly pedantic. If the heart is at ease, the path will be smooth.
12. The solution to a problem often lies within the problem itself. The keys to opening the door of a solution are one's knowledge, experience, and wisdom. By analyzing the problem and understanding the intersections of all parties involved, one finds the keyhole. By using wisdom to propose solutions that allow parties to make concessions, one can solve the issue without creating new ones. The process of solving problems is also a process of development.
13. Nothing in the world can change you externally; what truly changes you are your greed, obsession, suspicion, and jealousy. Life is a process of self-liberation, and no one can gift ease to another. The path of life is inherently winding; if you lose your way, you will face a deeper fall. Believe that from beginning to end, the only thing we need to change is ourselves.
14. Rather than standing by the pond admiring the fish, it is better to go home and weave a net.
15. Always do a little more than others! A little more effort, a little more practice, a little more madness... that little extra can create miracles!
16. The road of life is long and wide; the winner is not necessarily the one who starts the fastest.
17. Whether it is a person of virtue or a person of low character, mistakes are visible to everyone. Therefore, once a mistake is made, it is best to admit it frankly. Then, strive to find the cause, correct it, and avoid repeating it. This is the best attitude and method for dealing with errors.
