Human beings can restrain desire, but they cannot live without it. Restraining desire does not mean eliminating it, but controlling it appropriately. Desire is also an expression of emotion, and in a sense, even a sign of health.
A car without spare parts should not be bought, and a friend without credibility should not be trusted.
Even the best friendship needs proper distance, because getting too close often reveals flaws.
It is regrettable in society that it often takes a combination of different personalities to form a complete character or ideal type. Thought can be exhausting and aging; it is both the sorrow of unfulfilled vanity and the struggle of ambition in conflict. Inner calm, however, acts like a soothing balm. Moderation of desire and anger is a way to preserve health; exercise and balanced diet strengthen the body; natural living reduces mental burden; self-cultivation is the way of dealing with life; restraint and calmness are the principles of managing a household; diligence and hard work are the foundation of building a career.
Happiness does not need to be deliberately pursued; it has always been around us and never truly left. The more one chases happiness, the further one tends to drift away from it.
Without ambition in youth, much of life may be wasted; with ambition in youth, one can still make progress; with firm ambition in middle age, opportunities must not be missed; in old age, letting go of ambition allows one to write and live a transcendent life.
Life owes no one anything. What others give you is out of willingness and joy; what you give others is also out of your own choice. Those who love without regret can part peacefully and still respect each other, which is truly rare.
If the room of the mind is not cleaned regularly, it will be covered in dust. Only by constantly clearing the inner self can happiness have more space to grow.
