1. The prime years will never come again, and the morning will never come again. Be encouraged in time, time waits for no one. ——"Miscellaneous Poems" by Tao Yuanming in the Wei and Jin Dynasties
Translation: Once youth has passed, it is impossible to come back again, and you will never see the second sunrise in a day. You should encourage yourself while you are young and strong. Time passes by and does not wait for others.
The lights are on at the second and third watch and the chicken is at the fifth watch, which is when men are studying. Black-haired people don't know how to study diligently early, and white-haired people regret studying late. ——"Encouraging Learning" by Yan Zhenqing in the Tang Dynasty
Translation: From midnight to the time when the rooster crows every day, it is the best time for boys to study. When I was young, I only knew how to play and didn't know how to study hard. When I get older, I regret why I didn't know how to study hard when I was young.
3. When you are reading, you will not realize that spring is already deep. Every inch of time is worth an inch of gold. The Taoist is not here to make people laugh, Zhou Qing and Kong Sizheng are pursuing it. ——"White Deer Cave Poetry" by Wang Zhenbai of the Tang Dynasty
Translation: Concentrate on reading, and before you know it, spring is over, and every inch of time is as precious as an inch of gold. It was not that the Taoists came to laugh at him, but he devoted himself to studying the essence of Zhou Gong's thoughts and teachings of Confucius.
4. It is easy for a young man to learn from an old man, and it is difficult to learn from an old man. One inch of time cannot be taken lightly. Before I realized the dream of spring grass in the pond, the phoenix leaves in front of the steps already sounded the sound of autumn. ——Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty, "Occasionally"
Translation: The days of youth are very easy to pass away, but it is difficult to achieve success in learning, so every inch of time must be cherished and not easily let go. Before I could wake up from the sweet dream of spring grass growing in the pond, the leaves of the sycamore trees in front of the steps were already rustling in the autumn wind.
5. I advise you not to cherish your gold-threaded clothes; I advise you to cherish your youth. Flowers are ready to be broken when they bloom, but don’t wait to break branches when there are no flowers left. ——"Golden Threaded Clothes" by Du Qiuniang of the Tang Dynasty
Translation: Don't cherish glory and wealth, but cherish your youth. Just like the blooming flowers, they must be picked in time. If you don't pick it in time, you will have to break off the flower branches when the remaining flowers fall in spring.