In this world, perfection is something to be avoided. Like the moon that must wane after fullness, or fruit that falls after ripening, imperfection allows for endurance.
From now on, I will choose my life with care, no longer allowing myself to lose my way amidst various temptations. I have heard the call from afar, and no longer need to look back at the controversies and gossip behind me. I have no time to dwell on the past; I must move forward. — Milan Kundera, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being"
Bamboo shows humility with its bowing leaves, and the plum shows integrity with its prideful blossoms. — Zheng Banqiao, "Couplet for Bamboo and Plum"
Section by section, branch by branch, ten thousand leaves gather; I do not bloom, so as not to lure the bees and butterflies. — Zheng Xie
Clinging firmly to the green mountain without letting go, its roots lie deep within the broken rock. Despite thousands of strikes, it remains resilient, regardless of the winds from the east, west, north, or south. — Zheng Banqiao, "On the Painting of Bamboo"
To know what you know and what you do not know—that is true knowledge. — Henry David Thoreau, "Walden"
When you pay too much attention to details, you are wasting your life bit by bit. If you act sincerely, your hands should suffice. If you still feel it is not enough, you may add your feet to complete the task. Simplify! Simplify! Simplify again! — Henry David Thoreau
Society has drifted far from its fundamental meaning. Despite frequent contact, we lack the time to discover new value in one another. We are forced to adhere to a set of rules, so-called etiquette and politeness, to prevent frequent contact from becoming intolerable and leading to violence. — Henry David Thoreau, "Walden"
Every morning is a delightful invitation, making my life as simple, and perhaps as pure and flawless, as nature itself. — Henry David Thoreau, "Walden"
When you are at your wealthiest, your life may be at its poorest. A faultfinder can find flaws even in heaven. A contented person can live happily anywhere, with an optimistic spirit, as if living in a palace. There is no need to struggle to seek novelty, whether in clothes or friends. Simply refresh the old. All things remain the same; it is we who change. — Henry David Thoreau, "Walden"
How a person views themselves determines their destiny and their ultimate destination. Our prospects are the same; when better thoughts are infused, they become bright. No matter how humble your life may be, face it bravely. Do not escape, and never curse it with harsh words. — Henry David Thoreau, "The Belief in Seeds"
I want to plunge deeply into life, to suck the marrow out of life, to live solidly and simply, stripping away everything that does not belong to life. I want to push life to its limits—simply, simply, and simply again. — Henry David Thoreau, "Walden"
Our heart is a sponge; our spirit is a river. Yet most of us prefer to absorb rather than to flow—is that not strange? — Kahlil Gibran, "Sand and Foam"
The desire for ease kills the passion of the soul, and it laughs at the funeral. — Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet"
When you work with love, you unite with yourself, with humanity, and with God. — Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet"
Love, in its purest form, neither gives nor takes from anyone except itself; it does not possess, nor is it possessed; it is simply content with itself. — Kahlil Gibran
Looking back at the desolate places I have passed, I return to find neither wind nor rain, neither storm nor sunshine. — Su Shi, "Viewing the Waves"
Those who aim for the peak will never stop their ascent because of the beautiful flowers and plants on the mountainside. — Maxim Gorky
In life, the beautiful things we encounter are measured in seconds. — Maxim Gorky, "Ten Kopecks"
There are two tragedies in life: despair, and ambition. — George Bernard Shaw
I do not believe in the lines on one's palm, but I believe in the strength of the palm and the fingers. If you are unsure of where you are going, you will find your grave there. — Bi Shumin, "Seven Spiritual Games"
Reawaken the passion of life by returning to your true essence. — Bi Shumin, "Blue Heaven"
Life has countless paths, and at the intersections, there are often temptations. We are often dazzled by the splendor of materialism. We need to reflect in the silence of the night: what are our innate ideals? How close are we to our ultimate goal? Eyes are useful, but sometimes, it is only when we close them that we can better listen to the answers of our hearts. — Bi Shumin
Happiness blindness is like color blindness, reducing the vibrant world to a blurry black-and-white photograph. Wipe your pupils of happiness, and you will see the happiness that has been hidden or obscured, rising from the deep sea like a mermaid to nourish us. — Bi Shumin, "Happiness Blindness"
Happiness dislikes noise and ostentation; it often arrives in the shadows. Poverty is a shared biscuit in times of need; it is the look of mutual understanding in times of hardship. — Bi Shumin, "Spiritual Prescription"