Only when I began to fly did I understand the sorrow of the dandelion. The sky is our dream, but to fly, one must leave the shoulders of those they love. Being without support and without attachments allows us to fly further. When the dandelion blooms again, please remember to send me its most beautiful flower, as a memory of the youth that was scattered by the wind.
1. Goodness brings rewards, and evil brings retribution; if it has not yet been repaid, the time has simply not yet come.
2. To love is not just to be loved, but to have the capacity to actively love others and the world; to have things to do, making every day fulfilling—it matters not the size of the task, but whether you love doing it; to have expectations gives life hope; one need not fear being lowly, only fear losing hope.
3. Rely on yourself in all things; changing your destiny requires self-reliance. Success requires persistence, endurance, and utmost effort. There are no innate strong people; the strong are forged through tempering. If one wishes to achieve greatness, one must compete with and surpass rivals. Competing with the weak offers easy victories but rarely builds strength. Only by competing with the strong can one expand the boundaries of survival and become a true powerhouse.
4. All things coexist through mutual creation and destruction; there is no height without a low, and no sweetness without bitterness. Only after enduring hardship can one appreciate leisure; only after tasting bitterness can one know sweetness. When the day comes that you feel no need to mention your past struggles, and even find the thought of mentioning them quite absurd, you will have saved yourself. In this world, besides yourself, no one can truly help you.
5. Every unsatisfactory present is the result of a past self that refused to work hard, act, or change. That past self was not long ago, but was merely your thoughts and actions from a moment ago. Your current thoughts and actions will instantly become the past. Life flows through countless moments before the curtain falls; you may feel gratified or filled with regret. Everything is unrelated to others; it is simply the result of your actions in every moment.
6. Trying is the courage of a bird soaring through clouds to reach the sky, or a small boat pushing forward through crashing waves. For the brave, trying is a path to a new life; for the cowardly, trying is an insurmountable iron wall.
7. As long as a person pursues their goals with intense and unremitting determination, they will achieve them.
8. Praise behind one's back is silver; criticism to one's face is gold.
9. Life is like an ordinary pencil; it grows shorter for everyone, but it possesses an advantage that fountain pens or brushes lack: if you make a mistake, you can erase it and start again! Life will not always be smooth; making a mistake is not shameful. Cherish your life and let it fulfill its greatest meaning.
10. Life is like a tree; without the battering of wind and rain, it can never become a pillar of strength.
11. Life is short; one must seize the present. As human knowledge is extremely limited, the unknown should be treated with the same awe as the deep sea.
12. Beyond basic necessities, humans seek beauty and success, striving for greatness and fame. However, excessive pursuit turns into greed. Greed causes us to lose autonomy over our lives, turning us into numb individuals who only chase fame and fortune.
13. Learning requires undivided attention and hard work. If one learns something today only to discard it tomorrow, true knowledge will never be attained. While playfulness is human nature, those who achieve greatness are those who channel their time into learning to move toward their goals.
14. A gentleman should observe nine principles: see clearly when looking, hear clearly when listening; maintain a gentle countenance and modest appearance; speak with integrity; act with prudence and seriousness; seek guidance when in doubt; consider the consequences when angry; and ensure gains are made according to moral principles.
15. Living in the world, when faced with various harsh environments and situations we cannot cope with, sometimes "retreating" is the wisest course of action.
16. To navigate society, one needs not only profound knowledge but also the art of flexibility. In a constantly changing world, rigid adherence to rules has no way out; only by adapting to change can one find peace and stability.
17. Life will always involve gains and losses, joys and sorrows that we cannot control or predict. What we can do is respond actively and adjust ourselves: in joy, control yourself so as not to become arrogant; in sorrow, restrain yourself so as not to lose your spirit. One should face all aspects of life calmly—accept gains without denial, and face losses without avoidance.
18. Growing up is the transition from believing the world revolves around oneself to realizing that one's talent is only sufficient to be an ordinary human being.
19. Only by repaying resentment with virtue can all grievances be ended. Use morality to transform others instead of harboring hatred, for repaying resentment with resentment can never turn an enemy into a friend.
20. Do not hide your illness from the doctor; deceiving a doctor harms yourself. To hide one's sickness is to hasten one's end.
