21. It is not circumstances that make a person, but the person who shapes the circumstances.
22. Life is like a pot of wine, and every person is the brewer of their own life. Some brew life into bitter wine, chewing on misfortune daily until the river of time becomes a sea of endless suffering; others brew life into fine wine, savoring the sweetness of life and making their years shine brightly. Do not complain about unfair fate or lament the hardships of life; stand tall, and even in the bitterest days, live with a smile.
23. Happiness in life depends on your attitude. Happiness is your own business; if you wish, you can adjust your mental frequency to the channel of joy at any time. Be simple in character and simple in action; do not be rushed by circumstances or angered by people. Use a sense of easygoing acceptance to brew the rich flavors of life. Simplicity is a kind of calmness, but not monotony; simplicity is a kind of ordinariness, but not mediocrity.
24. Do not corner an enemy driven to desperation. If you continue to strike, they will have nothing to lose and will fight you with all their might. "A cornered dog will bite, and a cornered rabbit will also strike." Therefore, when dealing with others, leave them some room to maneuver. Do not push people to their limits; even with an opponent, show some respect and avoid total destruction. Otherwise, if they become desperate, they may take you down with them, which is simply not worth it.
25. Small cleverness can sometimes lead to foolishness. Only great wisdom allows for great achievements and profound transformation.
26. Appropriate praise is often more effective than reprimand.
27. When throwing stones upward, watch your head.
28. If a person stops progressing because of the achievements they have already attained, failure will soon follow. Many people are full of vigor when they first start struggling, but become self-satisfied as soon as they show a glimmer of success; in such cases, ultimate success will still elude them.
29. Thought: We both sleep on our property; you sleep on your gold, and I sleep on my tools of livelihood!
30. Life lasts no more than a hundred years, and life cannot be lived twice. There is no need to be overly pedantic about some things, and there is no need to hold grudges against some people. The more you dwell on details, the less happy you will be; the more you hold onto grudges, the harder it will be to let go.
31. If you have the mindset of an ant, even a tiny pebble is an obstacle; but if you have the mindset of an eagle, you will dare to attempt even the highest peaks! Those with high standing are not without difficulties, but their altitude and perspective on life are different. What we must do every day is to increase our own height and depth. With a small heart, everything is a big matter; with a large heart, everything is a small matter!
32. Life is like a boat and the world is like the ocean; it is up to you to choose the right currents and wind for your voyage.
33. Life is like a song, with high crescendos of joy and low notes of melancholy; life is also like climbing stairs—tell yourself, keep going!
34. Whenever you have time, help others; it will bring many benefits to you.
35. Everyone should learn to travel light, for if the boat of life is overloaded, it will eventually run aground.
36. Marriage should be entered into cautiously, and divorce should be handled even more cautiously. If marriage was a mistake made in a moment of impulse, do not let divorce become another mistake made in a moment of impulse.
37. It is inevitable to encounter pain and many troubles in life, but we do not need to torture ourselves. If you keep staring at a few ink spots on a white wall, darkness will occupy your entire vision. Similarly, if you constantly cling to certain fragmented moments of life, you will lose the wholeness of your existence. Letting go of yourself and not self-torturing is a form of great wisdom.
38. To someone who has suffered a blow, there is nothing in this world more precious than the encouragement of a friend.
39. A street singer is already suffering enough; why bother using such sorrowful songs to extract tears from others?
40. Observing more can increase one's wisdom, but speaking too much can only bring calamity.