To achieve greatness, one must first have great ambitions: do not be bound by trifles, misled by petty profits, or lost in dark schemes; do not haggle over minute gains or losses, and do not dwell on immediate success or failure. One must possess a broad vision and a grand spirit. Second, one must maintain a high standard of character: do not be entangled by emotions or people; be able to remain calm in the midst of a crowd and find peace in solitude. Control overflowing desires, prevent the growth of bad habits, and maintain inner peace. Lastly, one must know how to let go: like a tall tree shedding excess branches, a great person must cast aside the small self; by letting go of something, you gain something.
There is always an accident that becomes a habit, a habit that breeds expectation, and an expectation that brings disappointment. Conversely, disappointment brings new expectations, which in turn encourage us to break bad habits and turn them back into mere accidents. Understand these accidents, change those habits, and free yourself from disappointment to seek a more carefree self.
Only with steep climbs can climbers find joy; only with danger can strivers find happiness; and only with risks can explorers find fulfillment.
Live each day with awareness. Do not sleepwalk through your life. Life is meant for experiencing, not for merely drifting through the days.
Some people stop eating fish for fear of the bones. Many people refuse to start anything for fear of being hurt in the process.
Those who are only rigid will eventually be broken; those who are only soft will end up as cowards.
Only the weak evoke pity, while the strong, despite their many hardships, command respect because they understand self-respect, self-reliance, and self-strength.
A strong person in life is not one who lacks troubles, but one who resolves them sooner than others.