The lights are on at three o'clock and the chicken is on at five o'clock, which is when men are studying. Black-haired people don't know how to study hard early, and white-haired people regret studying late. ("Encouraging Learning" by Yan Zhenqing of the Tang Dynasty) Learning is like hard work, and you know yourself if you are diligent and lazy. But if there are many kinds of books, there will be good times. ("Academy" by Liu Guo of the Song Dynasty) A half-acre square pond is opened, and the skylight and moonlight linger endlessly. Ask the canal how clear it is, because there is a source of living water. ("Reflections on Reading" by Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty) Last night, the spring water grew on the riverside, and the huge ship was washed away by a dime. I have always wasted my efforts in pushing forward, but today I am able to move freely.
(Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty, "Reflections on Reading Books")