Either possess firm convictions, or practice absolute obedience.
Avoid excess in all things. Sages summarize wisdom as the "Middle Way"; excess leads to error. Much like squeezing orange juice until it turns bitter, or overusing talent until it runs dry; much like a tyrant's greed, which yields only blood. Gaining knowledge is like mining precious gold; it requires intelligence and unceasing effort to obtain a brilliant gem.
To those who praise everything: speak little; to those who condemn everything: believe little; to the indifferent: do not believe at all. For the outstanding: trust without dependency; for the ordinary: trust with dependency; for the detestable: neither trust nor dependency. There is no eternal feast, and the ultimate destination of life is death. Much like the end of a grand ball, the people encountered and the stories shared will eventually vanish with the passing of the soul.
If you do not set limits for yourself, there will be no barriers to your potential.
Learn to conduct yourself with the big picture in mind. Life is an endless journey; while admiring the scenery, one must also respect its customs. One can look back at life, but one cannot walk backward. Learn to be tolerant, and understand the art of letting go and making choices.
If you wish to succeed, remember: honesty first, learning second, politeness third, hard work fourth, and shrewdness fifth. A complete life should possess three senses: a sense of mission, a sense of loss, and a sense of crisis.
Chekhov once said: "Money is not happiness; a person can be happy even in poverty."