Grandfather's Ten Profound Sayings - Great Benefit Gained
Old sayings of great wisdom, ten profound thoughts, greatly benefited
1. Those who wander at night will not commit evil, but cannot stop dogs from barking.
Source: Warring States Policy·Han
Translation: Those who travel at night may uphold their integrity and avoid wrongdoing, but they cannot prevent dogs from barking at them.
Metaphor: People can uphold their integrity, but cannot stop others from criticizing them.
Insight: Human society is complex and diverse, and it is impossible to make everyone satisfied. Even if you try your best to make everyone satisfied, you cannot be free and easy. Don't care too much about other people's opinions, do your best.
2. Those who are good at swimming drown, and those who are good at riding horses fall.
Source: Han Feizi·Dao Xun
Translation: Those who are good at swimming are likely to drown, and those who are good at riding horses are likely to fall off their horses.
Metaphor: Because of one's own abilities, one may easily incur trouble.
Insight: No matter what environment we are in, we should be cautious and work hard, in order to avoid mistakes that should not occur. After all, 'Constant riverbank walking, can't avoid wet shoes'.
3. Fish rely on water, birds rely on wind, grass and trees rely on seasons.
Source: Han·Liu XiangSaying of Things·Build Base
Translation: Fish rely on water to move, birds rely on wind to fly, and plants and trees rely on seasons to grow.
Metaphor: To achieve success, you must make good use of favorable conditions and opportunities.
Insight: As time changes and conditions change, the situation and development trend of things at a certain stage will also change accordingly. Taking advantage of favorable conditions and seizing opportunities is the key to success.
4. Bamboo grows in deep forests, does not diminish its fragrance because no one admires it.
Source: Confucius Family Education·In Trouble
Translation: Bamboo grows in the deep forest, but does not diminish its fragrance because no one admires it.
Metaphor: A virtuous person does not change their principles because of lack of recognition.
Insight: A virtuous person doesn't change their principles because of lack of recognition. Even if they are buried by others, they will still shine brightly. A solitary and proud person will undoubtedly shine brightly.
5. Ears don't listen to others' faults, eyes don't watch others' shortcomings, mouth doesn't speak about others' mistakes.
Source: Song·Lin PuProvince Heart Record
Translation: Ears don't listen to others' faults and shortcomings, eyes don't watch others' weaknesses, and mouth doesn't speak about others' mistakes.
Metaphor: Don't focus on others' shortcomings.
Insight: In life, we must be tolerant and not focus on others' shortcomings. This is the key to a harmonious relationship with others.
6. Those who preserve things for a long time will surely be remarkable when revealed, but those who create precedents early will soon fade away.
Source: Siege Night Talk
Translation: Those who hide things for a long time will certainly be remarkable when revealed, and those who create precedents early will soon disappear.
Metaphor: Any thing needs time to mature before it can be displayed. Without time, it will eventually fade away.
Insight: As the saying goes, 'One minute on stage, ten years of preparation offstage.' 'Ten years to sharpen a sword,'. Only through a long period of time and accumulation can we become mature and refined.
7. Flowers are half-bloomed, wine is slightly drunk, there is great interest in this.
Source: Vegetable Root Canon·Good Words
Translation: Flowers should be half-bloomed to appreciate their beauty, and wine should be drunk to a slightly tipsy state, there is great interest in this.
Metaphor: To treat things appropriately, just right, not too much or too little.
Insight: If you watch a fully bloomed flower, you will inevitably feel sad because it will soon wilt. If you drink to a state of slight intoxication, you will only be slightly drunk or clumsy. Therefore, in dealing with things, we should have a degree, understand self-deprecation, and realize that 'Humility brings benefits, and excessive caution brings losses.' In the process of pursuing goals, when facing goals, don't be greedy for immediate success, and don't be complacent when goals are achieved. You must continuously strive for perfection.
8. When one comprehends the Dao in wine, one encounters flowers in the midst of the wilderness, though elegant, cannot be separated from the vulgar.
Source: Vegetable Root Canon
Translation: To comprehend the Dao in wine, to encounter flowers among wilderness, though elegant, cannot be separated from the vulgar.
Metaphor: Even the most beautiful things are inseparable from the mundane.
Insight: Elegant things cannot be separated from the environment in which they originated. Just like no one is born inherently elegant, elegant things are also created through constant refinement. It takes time and effort to make something truly elegant.
9. Those who know how to preserve things will certainly die, so they don't need to overwork to preserve life.
Source: Vegetable Root Canon
Translation: Those who know how to preserve things will certainly die, so they don't need to overwork to preserve life.
Metaphor: Those who are relaxed and free won't be bothered by worldly concerns.
Insight: A relaxed and unconcerned attitude is the key to a healthy and balanced life. Don't be overly anxious about worldly matters, and don't pursue fame and fortune. Just be yourself, and live a simple and natural life.
10. Those who understand the Dao are not arrogant about their knowledge, and those who are foolish do not boast about their ignorance.
Source: Qing·Chen QuanjiaNear Talk·Near Word
Translation: Those who understand the Dao will not boast about their knowledge, and those who are foolish will not boast about their ignorance.
Metaphor: Wise people are modest, and foolish people are arrogant.
Insight: Those who are truly intelligent are modest and humble, while those who are foolish are arrogant and self-righteous.
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