16. Without a calm mind, there will be no tranquil place and no peaceful matters.
17. No one can determine victory or defeat except yourself.
18. People with poor luck often miss opportunities because they are overly focused on finding something specific. For instance, in seeking a perfect partner, they miss the chance to make great friends; in scouring newspapers for a specific job, they overlook other types of employment. Lucky people are more relaxed and open-minded, allowing them to see what is available rather than focusing solely on what they are seeking.
19. Spilt milk cannot be gathered. Once something has happened, it cannot be changed. The die is cast; what can be done? Whether we learn from the experience or remain trapped by it depends entirely on ourselves.
20. Knowledge is cumulative. We only increase our knowledge; we do not need to sacrifice old knowledge to exchange for new. Our capacity to absorb and master knowledge is virtually limitless.
21. If I could do it all over again, I would be willing to wait.
22. No one knows what the future holds, and we always strive to change our destiny. As Steve Jobs said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward." Life is short; one should prioritize health, happiness, and joy, with occasional moments of indulgence. Life is a journey; one must cultivate a blossoming landscape even amidst desolation.
23. Desires often seem to begin without expectation, yet frequently end in disappointment.
24. Leisure cannot be faked. Idleness is not the same as leisure, nor is being unproductive. If idleness is a desolate plain, leisure is a scenic journey. One can pretend to be idle, but one cannot fake the spirit of leisure.
25. The fear of distance lies in not knowing whether the other person misses you or has forgotten you. Perhaps the most comforting thing in life is reuniting with the self you once lost. Everyone is a passerby—I am yours, you are mine, and we are all passersby of time. When you turn to look back, that person may already be lost in the crowd; thus, we have every reason to cherish those around us.
26. Life is not that complex; it is our overthinking that weaves a web for us to struggle in. Love is not always perfect, yet we often indulge in its romance. Some things are only understood after experiencing them: to be simple and realistic is to be at ease.
27. Life often plays tricks: what you wait for moves further away, and whom you cling to most deeply will hurt you most. Therefore, do not wait too long or cling too tightly; learn to let go. Let go of fruitless waiting and fruitless obsession. Everything passes and nothing can be held forever, except for the happiness and joy of the present moment.
28. If two people commit to sincere love, why dwell on the past? Telling too much about your past can only cause pain to the other person. From another perspective, is someone who obsessively tries to uncover your history truly loving you? Many people meet tragic ends because they speak blunt truths at inappropriate times and to the wrong people.
29. Changing a person is as difficult as changing their nose—both occupy a central position: one at the center of the face, and the other at the core of the character.
