1. Falling red flowers are not heartless things, they turn into spring mud to protect flowers. ——Qing Dynasty·Gong Zizhen's "Miscellaneous Poems of Ji Hai·Part 5"
Translation: The fallen flowers falling from the branches are not heartless things. Even if they turn into spring mud, they are willing to cultivate the growth of beautiful spring flowers.
2. New bamboo branches are higher than old bamboo branches, all because of the support of old stems. ——Qing Dynasty·Zheng Xie's "Hsinchu"
Translation: New bamboo can surpass the old bamboo entirely because of the growth and nourishment of old bamboo.
3. After harvesting the honey from hundreds of flowers, for whom does it work hard and for whom does it taste sweet? ——"Bee" by Luo Yin of the Tang Dynasty
Translation: Bee, you have collected all the flowers and turned them into nectar. Who do you work hard for, and who do you want to taste the sweetness?
4. Your Majesty has peaches and plums all over the world, so why bother planting more flowers in front of the hall? ——Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty, "Planting Flowers in the Green Wild Hall of Pei Linggong"
Translation: Pei Linggong's peach and plum students are all over the world, where is the need to plant flowers in front of the door and behind the house?
5. Spring silkworms will not run out until they are dead, and wax torches will turn to ashes before their tears dry up. ——"Untitled" by Li Shangyin of the Tang Dynasty
Translation: The spring silkworm spins its cocoon until it dies and spins out all the silk; the candle burns to ashes before the tear-like wax drips dry.