We often care deeply about success and failure, yet our understanding of these concepts varies greatly, making it necessary to distinguish between them. Typically, there are two distinct meanings: the first refers to external social circumstances, where rising to prominence is success and falling into destitution is failure; the second refers to career pursuits, where achieving one's goals is success, and failing to do so is failure. It is certain that in abstract discussions, people tend to endorse the second definition while rejecting the first. However, careers vary in scale, and goals differ in height, rendering the significance of career success or failure quite limited. I am unsure how to measure the success or failure of life itself; perhaps life transcends the evaluation of success and failure entirely.
Many people sit in front of noisy televisions all through the night, considering this a way to celebrate the New Year.
Wisdom makes one more alert and sensitive to suffering. A wise person often keeps their eyes open to hardships unknown to ordinary people and perceives the profound tragic implications behind everyday suffering more deeply than others. In this sense, wisdom brings pain.
The deepest forms of love are characterized by being "shy of being seen, startled by being asked, and afraid of being known," for once made public, such love often becomes distorted and changes its flavor.
Like all games, fouls and punishments are essential elements of the game of love. Of course, this assumes the foul-maker does not intend to quit the game. If fouling is forbidden, or if one refuses to accept punishment after fouling, the game cannot continue.
Compared to suffering, happiness is more beneficial to mental health.