Huainanzi's famous sayings and their explanations

1. Where beauty lies, even if it is insulted, it cannot be humbled in the world; where there is evil, although it is high, it cannot be noble in the world. "Huainanzi·Shuo Shan Xun"

Interpretation: Beautiful things will not become despicable even if they are defiled and humiliated; ugly things will not become inferior even if someone clamors and praises them and raises their value. Become noble.

2. Walk upright and all evil will cease. "Huainanzi·Miao Chengxun"

Explanation: If you are pure and straightforward in your actions, all evil will cease.

3. A blessing in disguise? "Huainanzi Human Lessons"

Explanation: A man lost his horse on the border fortress, and people came to comfort him. His father said: How do you know that you will not be blessed by this? A few months later, the horse came back with a horse from Hu Di.

4. Good fortune comes from oneself, and misfortune comes from oneself. "Huainanzi·Mistaken Learning"

Interpretation: Both misfortunes and blessings lie in oneself.

5. A capsized boat is a sign of good travel, and a horse galloping is a sign of good control. "Huainanzi·Speaking of Lin Xun"

Interpretation: Only when the boat capsizes can you see who is a real swimmer; when the horse gallops, you can see who is a real good swimmer.

6. If you place it in the threshold of an ape, it will be the same as a dolphin. It is not unskillful and quick, and there is nothing it can do. "Huainanzi Chu Zhen Xun"

Interpretation: If you put an ape in a cage, it will be like a pig. It's not that it doesn't have the ability to climb dexterously and jump lightly, but it doesn't have the ability to use its abilities. Chance.

7. Begging for fire is worse than getting firewood, and asking for fire is worse than digging a well. "Huainanzi·Lan Ming Xun"

Explanation: Asking for fire from others is worse than finding flint yourself; borrowing water from a well is worse than digging a well yourself.

8. When it comes to good deeds, a saint will not do anything small; when it comes to mistakes, he will not correct them even if they are trivial. "Huainanzi·Zhushu Xun"

Interpretation: A saint must do good deeds no matter how small; he must correct his mistakes no matter how small.

9. Those who chase the deer ignore the rabbit. "Huainanzi·Shuo Lin Xun"

Interpretation: A person chasing a deer does not care about the rabbit.

10. Those who are good at swimming will drown, and those who are good at riding will fall. Everyone is doing what they like, but it is their own disaster. "Huainanzi·Yuan Daoxun"

Interpretation: People who are good at swimming are easy to drown, and people who are good at riding are easy to fall off their horses. It is precisely because of their strengths that they bring disaster upon themselves.