1. With money, one is a prime minister at thirty; without money, one is a laborer at eighty.
2. Regarding those who praise everything: speak little; regarding those who condemn everything: believe as little as possible; regarding those who are indifferent to everything: believe nothing; regarding the outstanding: trust but do not depend; regarding the ordinary: trust and depend; regarding the detestable: neither depend nor trust.
3. Doing things is like sailing at sea; it requires a high starting point, high standards, and high efficiency, much like a sail full of wind on a high mast. Being a person, however, requires being down-to-earth. No matter how great your achievements, do not let your ego soar, or you will lose the hearts of the people and your sense of duty, eventually capsizing in the vast ocean of society. Act with high standards, but live with humility. When riding the spring breeze of success, one must be prepared; if a storm hits, one must know how to lower the mast, otherwise, the high center of gravity will lead to disaster.
4. Each of us is unique in this world, with no duplicate or replica. I am me, and you are you. However, as we constantly look up to, imitate, and follow others, we gradually leave behind the imprints of others, while our original selves fade away. By staring at the heights of others, we lose not only our own height but also the place where our souls stand.
5. If you can discover your own flaws as accurately as you see the flaws of others, your life will become extraordinary.
6. Those who use only their hands are laborers; those who use hands and brains are helmsmen; those who use hands, brains, and hearts are artists; but only those who combine hands, brains, hearts, and feet are salespeople. Remember, doing the right thing is more important than doing things right.
7. The best way to preserve youth is to maintain a young mindset; the best way to stay healthy is regular exercise; the best way to stay happy is to find joy in helping others; the best way to avoid mistakes is to think twice before acting. We should live for happiness, move forward with confidence, climb for glory, strive for ideals, exert ourselves for our careers, and dedicate ourselves to our country—only then will our lives not be in vain.
8. To correct a mistake is the greatest virtue: "No man is a saint; who can be without error?" Mistakes are not terrifying; what is terrifying is being unaware of them, or being aware but refusing to correct them, which only compounds the error.
9. In life, do not offend petty people, nor should you disrespect those smaller or weaker than yourself. Offending petty people ruins your affairs, and offending those smaller than you affects your cooperation.
10. If an enemy makes you angry, it means you do not yet have the certainty of defeating them; there is no need to turn around and see who is cursing you. If a mad dog bites you, would you stoop down to bite it back? Do not care too much about the insults of others.
11. "When you see others as angels, you live in heaven; when you see others as devils, you live in hell." — Heaven is not far away; it is in the gratitude of the present moment. Hell is not elsewhere; it is in the moment of ego-driven obsession.
12. Time moves in three ways: the future arrives slowly, the present flies like an arrow, and the past remains forever still. If you wish to achieve something, start now. Wealthy people pursue a comfortable life, while wise people pursue a quality life. The ultimate goal of a quality life is to live happily; living happily is more meaningful than living richly.
13. When sad, give yourself a smile—that is grace. When suffering a loss, give yourself a smile—that is composure. When failing, give yourself a smile—that is confidence. When misunderstood, give yourself a smile—that is magnanimity. When helpless, give yourself a smile—that is optimism.
14. Reasonable challenges are called training, while unreasonable ones are called tempering; for a job seeker, both are excellent opportunities for growth.
15. Life is composed of a short blooming period and a long withering period.
