Explanations of inspirational quotes and aphorisms:
1. A day without books means everything is in ruins. Translation: Reading must be persevering and cannot be interrupted for a day. ?
2. The sage uses his enlightenment to make others enlighten, but now he uses his dimness to make others enlighten. Translation: A wise person must first understand himself and then make others understand; today’s people are still confused but insist on making others understand. ?
3. Those who love others will always be loved by others; those who respect others will always be respected by others. Translation: Those who love others will be loved by others; those who respect others will be respected by others. ?
4. Be true to your words and be resolute in your actions. Translation: You must keep your word when you speak, and you must be resolute and decisive in your actions. ?
5. Black-haired people don’t know how to study diligently early, and white-haired people regret studying late. Translation: Cherish time. ?
6. Looking up makes you taller, drilling makes you stronger. Translation: Look up, and the more you look, the higher you feel; study hard, and the more you study, the more difficult you feel. ?
7. To nourish the heart, don’t be good at having few desires. Translation: The best way to cultivate your mind is to reduce material desires. ?
8. To know something is to know it, and to know something is to know it. If you don’t know it, it is to know it. Translation: (The knowledge I teach you) What you know is you know, what you don’t know is you don’t know, this attitude is wise. ?
9. Be true to your words and be resolute in your actions. Translation: You must be trustworthy when you speak, and you must be decisive when doing things. ?
10. Riches and honors cannot lead to adultery, poverty and lowliness cannot change, and power cannot yield. This is called a true man. Translation: Wealth cannot disturb my heart, poverty and lowliness cannot change my aspirations, and power cannot bend my integrity. Only in this way can I be called a real man. ?
11. If you review the past and learn the new, you can become a teacher. Translation: Review old knowledge to gain new insights or discoveries. In this way, you can become a teacher. ?
12. Those who have gone by cannot be admonished, but those who have come can still be chased. Translation: The past is irreversible, but there is still time to correct the future. ?
13. The three armies can seize the commander, but an ordinary man cannot seize the will. Translation: An army can be deprived of its commander, but a man cannot be deprived of his ambition. ?
14. It is not benevolent to kill someone without sin, and it is not righteous to take something that does not exist. Translation: It is unkind to kill an innocent person; it is unjust to take something that is not yours.
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