It is not enough merely to talk; the important thing is to act.
In silence, one either explodes or perishes.
Writing novels is, at its core, about creating characters. The essence of the novelistic art lies in the art of character creation.
If one tries to consider every possible angle when doing anything, one ends up accomplishing nothing at all.
Humanity will never feel lonely, believing that life is progressive and innate.
Great structures are always built from single logs and stones. Why should we not be one of those logs or stones? I often do small, trivial tasks for precisely this reason.
When conversing with celebrities or influential figures, regarding their remarks, one should pretend to occasionally misunderstand. Being too ignorant invites disdain, while being too knowledgeable invites aversion. Occasionally appearing to not understand is the most harmonious approach for both parties.
Time is like water in a sponge; if one is willing to squeeze it, there is always some available.
Play is the most legitimate behavior for children, and toys are their angels.
My heart is vast, connecting to the universe; in the silent places, I hear the thunder.
It is harder to reform oneself than to forbid others.
Children need to be taught by others, and faults need to be cured by others, even if one is a teacher or a doctor oneself. However, the methods for dealing with people and handling affairs likely require one's own judgment. The good advice given by many others is often nothing but waste paper.
The events I write about generally have some basis in things I have seen or heard, but I never use the facts as they are. Instead, I take one end, transform it, or develop it further until it is sufficient to almost completely express my opinion. The models for characters are the same; I do not exclusively use one person. Often, the mouth is from Zhejiang, the face from Beijing, and the clothes from Shanxi—a character assembled from different parts.
Trickery has its arts and effects, but they are limited. Therefore, there has never been anyone in history who achieved great things through such means.
"Not ashamed to be last." Even if slow, if one keeps moving without ceasing, even if one falls behind or fails, one will certainly reach the intended goal.
