1. The virtues are good, but the appearance is forgotten.

From "Zhuangzi·De Chong Fu" by Zhuang Zhou during the Warring States Period.

Translation: Virtue will last forever, but body will be lost. Morality is fundamental, but body is secondary. Ignoring morality is the real mistake. When judging a person, we cannot only look at his appearance and ignore his moral cultivation. We should use a person's moral character as the standard to measure him, not his external flaws.

2. The Tao is hidden in Xiaocheng, and the words are hidden in glory.

From "Zhuangzi·Equality of Things" written by Zhuang Zhou during the Warring States Period.

Translation: Tao and speech are complementary concepts. Any Tao exists objectively. Tao is often obscured by small achievements, and speech is often hidden by flashy words. If the "Tao" is obscured by small successes, and if the "words" are concealed by vanity, then people will stay away from integrity and morality, and ultimately stay away from success.

3. If it is clear, the dirt will not stop, but if it stops, it will be unclear.

From "Zhuangzi·De Chong Fu" by Zhuang Zhou during the Warring States Period.

Translation: In a materialistic society, everything is full of opportunities, but also temptations and traps. Therefore, only by keeping your heart pure and indifferent can you not be driven by greed and live freely between heaven and earth, contentedly and happily.

4. Going in and out of Liuhe, traveling around Jiuzhou, going alone and coming alone, this is called uniqueness.

From "Zhuangzi Zaiyou".

Translation: There is such a person who can travel around the world at will, play in Kyushu, and travel alone without any restraint. Such a person can transcend all things.

5. People should not focus on flowing water, but on still water. Only stopping can stop all others.

From "Zhuangzi·De Chongfu".

Translation: It is impossible for a person to take a look at his own body shape on running water, it can only be done on calm water. Only things that stop can make other things stop.

6. It is better to use a horse to describe a horse than a horse, but to use a non-horse to describe a horse as a horse.

From "Zhuangzi·Equality of Things".

Translation: It is better to use an object that is not a horse to explain that a white horse is not a horse than to use a white horse to explain that a white horse is not a horse.

7. It is easy to disappear, but difficult to go without movement. It is easy to fake for a human being, but hard to fake for an angel.

From "Zhuangzi·Human World".

Translation: It is easy not to walk, but it is very difficult to walk and leave any traces. It is easy for people to be driven by Wei Zhuang, but it is difficult to pretend to be driven by nature.

8. There is nothing in the world that is bigger than the end of autumn hair, while Mount Tai is small; there is nothing that lives longer than Shang Zi, while Peng Zu is young.

From "Zhuangzi·Equality of Things".

Translation: There is nothing bigger in the world than the end of an autumn hair, and Mount Tai is the smallest. There is nothing in the world that has a longer life span than a child who dies young, and Peng Zu's life span is the shortest.

9. The true is the most sincere. If you are not refined or sincere, you cannot move people.

From "Zhuangzi Fisherman" by Zhuang Zhou during the Warring States Period.

Translation: Sincerity is a great character and an open mind. They always reflect on themselves and have great respect for others. The so-called truth means sincerity to the extreme. If it is not sincere, it will not move people's hearts.

10. Those who are small should not be pregnant, and those who are short should not be deep.

From "Zhuangzi·Zhi Le" by Zhuang Zhou during the Warring States Period.

Translation: Small bags cannot be used to carry large things; short ropes cannot be used to draw water from deep wells. Narrow-minded people cannot tolerate setbacks and failures, and thus cannot achieve greater achievements.