The gatherings of the world are destined to disband, and the ultimate destination of life is death. The moment one closes their eyes for eternal sleep is like the finale of a grand ball. The people met and the stories told during that ball ultimately vanish into dust as the soul departs.
As the ancients said, "stand at thirty," which implies that in adulthood, one should have a stable residence, a regular routine, and a focused career. Only then can parents find peace of mind. Confucius noted that if one does not study diligently in youth, one will lack ability in adulthood. As children, we must strive for self-improvement in our younger years and avoid wasting time, lest our lives pass without achievement.
Wisdom has three levels: shrewdness, cleverness, and insight. Shrewdness is like a rat’s eye, able to notice immediate food; cleverness is like a tiger’s eye, able to detect nearby prey; insight is like an eagle’s eye, able to perceive distant landscapes. Unifying these three allows one to achieve great things.
We should strive to be reasonable, benevolent, humble, and grateful. Doing things without being a person will never lead to success; being a person without virtue will never lead to true character.
A flower, stained with the faint hue of the mortal world and heavy dust, remains peaceful, beautiful, and elegantly charming. Simply thinking of it, the heart, polished by the hardships of life, immerses in warm love and cannot help but be captivated.