The clearer the water, the fewer the fish; the more calculating the person, the less wisdom they possess.
Regardless of your circumstances, continuous self-accumulation is always the right path. Whether it is reading extensively to build a knowledge system or honing skills to become a specialist, these accumulations add depth to your life. When opportunity knocks, you will be fully prepared to unleash your potential. Without such a foundation, even luck will be a fleeting moment, for there will be no capital to sustain it.
The hardworking farmer has little surplus grain; the diligent weaver has little warm clothing. When eating three meals a day, remember the farmer's toil; when wearing a single garment, recall the weaver's labor. Every thread is precious, every meal hard-earned. Receiving without merit brings unrest. Befriend the virtuous, avoid the unrighteous; earn through honest labor, and shun nameless vices. Maintain a self-disciplined heart and stay clear of useless disputes. If one follows these words, wealth and fame may endure.
If I cannot become profound right now, then I will choose to be lighthearted. How can one with a sorrowful face hear the sound of blooming flowers? How can one who is pretending understand the excitement in the croaking of frogs?
Every slight you endure and every criticism you face will serve a purpose at some point in the future. Even if the slights were unprovoked and the criticisms unfair, as long as your heart remains calm, your years will pass peacefully. No hardship is endured in vain; patience itself is a remarkable ability. Do not show off, do not argue; be a learned person. Do not be hollow or impetuous; be a fulfilled person. Even when life wanes, age with grace.
There is no feast that does not end; the ultimate destination of life is always death. The moment of eternal sleep is like the conclusion of a grand ball. The people encountered and the stories shared in that dance will eventually vanish like smoke as the soul drifts away.
