Life is like gold; it should be upright, and one’s character must stand firm. Life is like wood; it should be substantial, with profound inner meaning. Life is like water; it should be flexible, with adaptable methods. Life is like fire; it should be passionate, with sincere attitudes. Life is like earth; it should remain authentic, with a simple and grounded style.
A child tightly holds a flying kite; it is not merely a kite, but the dream the child releases into the sky. The stars embedded in the dark sky are not just stars, but the mother’s gaze longing for her child to return home. The umbrella held in the rain is not just a shelter from the rain, but the gentle hands of a mother protecting her child.
Fifteen is like the wind, twenty like the clouds, twenty-five like water, and thirty like the mountain. Wind can be felt but not seen; clouds can be seen but not grasped; water can be held but not contained; only mountains can be firmly relied upon. Yet clouds are the form of wind, water is the condensation of clouds, and mountains are the destination of water. Without wind, clouds would not drift; without clouds, water would not fall; without water, mountains would lose their vitality.
The trees growing in the northern lands endure harsh winters not only because of the faint winter sunlight, but also because the earth continuously provides them with warmth.
People in adversity overcome difficulties not only because of external help, but also because of the unwavering belief within them that provides endless strength.
People in adversity overcome difficulties not only because of external help, but also because of the unwavering belief within them that provides endless strength.