Power may place you at the peak where all mountains seem small, but it cannot bring you happiness; some things are beyond the reach of authority. Even if you enjoy the status of being surrounded by admirers through power, influence, or wealth, this is only temporary. In pursuit of success, you may be forced to grovel to others, uttering flattering words against your will, or rely on your authority to command others, seeking unearned rewards. Over time, you grow weary, others no longer obey blindly, and matters come to a halt.
In this world, labor comes first.
The ancients said, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” The West has a similar proverb: “Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.”
Lies cater to human nature; people love to hear them, but they are pleasing yet useless. Truth reveals nature; people fear to hear it, but it is useful yet unpleasant.
Abandon hatred and treat opponents with kindness. Opponents give us not only threats and conflict but also the drive to survive and win.
Those who fear suffering are already suffering from their fear.
In life, some things easily make us lose our reason, leaving us unable to find solutions, often leading to grave mistakes and lifelong regret. Action is the devil; stay calm, and the situation will turn for the better.
Failure is the mother of success. There is no success without failure; this is absolute experience. It does not mean loss but is a symbol of impending harvest. After failure, are we far from success?