1. It’s not that chrysanthemums are preferred among flowers. There will be no flowers even after the flowers bloom. ("Chrysanthemum" by Yuan Zhen of the Tang Dynasty)
It's not that chrysanthemums are particularly preferred among flowers, but because after the chrysanthemums bloom, there are no more flowers to enjoy. The sentence implicitly praises the chrysanthemum's steadfast character of being proud of the frost and then withering.
2. I don’t know how old I am when I am young, and wealth and honor are like floating clouds to me. (Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty, "")
Danqing, a vermilion and cyan pigment, refers to painting. These two sentences say that I have been immersed in the art of painting all my life without feeling that I am getting old. Wealth and honor are as indifferent to me as floating clouds in the sky. The poem praises the noble sentiment of the famous painter Cao Ba who devotes himself to art and does not care about fame and fortune.
3. Wealth is not obscene and poverty is happiness. A man is a hero here. (Song Dynasty? Cheng Hao)
A man who is not deceived by wealth and is content with poverty can be called a hero only when he reaches this state. Nowadays, it has been given a new meaning to describe the noble qualities of people with lofty ideals and benevolence who do not seek fame and wealth.
4. If you don’t say anything about peaches and plums, you will create your own trouble. ("Historical Records")
芊 (xī): small road. Although peach and plum trees cannot speak, their fragrant flowers and sweet fruits attract people to admire and pick them, and even paths are naturally created under the trees. This sentence means that people with high moral character will naturally win people's admiration.
5. Without indifference, there is no clear ambition; without tranquility, there is no far-reaching goal. (Three Kingdoms? Shu? Zhuge Liang's "Book of Commandments")
Without the cultivation of indifference and lack of desire, one cannot have pure aspirations; without a peaceful mind and without eliminating external interference, one cannot achieve lofty goals. Zhuge Liang believed that in order to cultivate one's morality and study one should first get rid of the shackles of fame and fortune, and avoid impetuousness in order to become talented.
6. To study alone without friends is to be lonely and ignorant. ("The Book of Rites? The Book of Learning")
If you study alone without friends to learn from each other, your knowledge will be shallow and your knowledge will not be broad.
7. Never forget the past and be the teacher of the future. ("Warring States Policy? Zhao Ceyi")
Refers to remembering the experiences and lessons of the past, which can be used as a reference for the future.
8. It is a place where there are no rocks in the level water, and it is often said that there is sinking. (Tang Dynasty? Du Xunhe's "Jingxi")
Warn people not to be complacent and negligent when everything is going smoothly, but to be cautious. Sinking: refers to shipwreck and drowning.
9. Do not do evil because it is small, and do not do good because it is small. ("Three Kingdoms")
Never do bad things even if they are small, and do good things even if they are small.
10. If something is wrong, correct it; if not, then encourage it. ("The Analects of Confucius")
To treat yourself, you must reflect on yourself every day, correct if you make mistakes, and encourage yourself if you make no mistakes. You should also adopt this attitude towards the opinions given to you by others.