Wen Tianxiang’s patriotic quotes: Who has never died since ancient times? Keep your loyalty to reflect history. It shows the poet's heroic ambition that he would rather die than surrender so that his patriotism and loyalty can shine in the annals of history.

Translation: Since ancient times, who has never died?

Sacrifice your life for your country, die a worthy death, (let me) leave this sincere heart to illuminate history!

The author of "Crossing the Lingding Ocean" is Wen Tianxiang, a famous national hero and patriotic poet in the Southern Song Dynasty. This poem was written when he crossed the Lingding Ocean in the first month of the second year (1279) after he was captured by the Yuan army. The poem outlines his own life and destiny, expresses his impassioned patriotic enthusiasm, his high moral integrity and his outlook on life of sacrificing his life for righteousness, which is the highest expression of the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation.