Inspiration is nothing more than the reward of persistent labor. Those who decline will perish in slow decay. Do not commit an evil even if it is small; do not fail to do good even if it is small. A huge tree grows from a tiny sprout; a nine-story tower rises from a heap of earth; a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Hard work for a day brings a night of peaceful sleep; hard work for a lifetime brings eternal happiness. No sudden flash of inspiration can substitute for long-term effort. Without experiencing wind and rain, how can one see the rainbow? In a group of three, there is always a teacher. Take the good from them and follow it, and take the bad from them and correct it. Without a suitable environment and constant effort, prodigies and geniuses cannot succeed and may instead fall into mediocrity. Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. This is how genius is formed: through lifelong labor! Dissatisfaction with oneself is the fundamental characteristic of any true genius. Consistency is valuable; there is no need to rise in the middle of the night, but the greatest harm is to be hot one day and cold the next. Much like our limbs, the brain becomes sharp with use and atrophies with disuse. A diligent person is a master of time, while a lazy person is a slave to time.