Tuesday 24 January 2012

Chinese proverbs and other wisdom

(Written on Jo's laptop)


A bridge never crossed is a life never lived. Traditional

He who asks is a fool for five minutes. But he who does not ask remains a fool forever. Traditional

Do not forget to take your wife when you move house. Traditional

There is no greater happiness than freedom from worry,and there is no greater wealth than contentment. Lao Zi, Spring and Autumn Period

A man has only one death. Sima Qian, Han Dynasty

During his lifetime, an individual should devote his efforts to create happiness and to enjoy it, and also to keep it in store in society so that individuals of the future may also enjoy it, one generation doing the same for next and so on unto infinity. - Chen Duxiu, Republican Period


Life is but a smile on the lips of death. Li Zhinfa, People's Republic

Once a word is spoken four horses cannot drag it back. Ouyang Xiu, Song Dynasty

By using bronze as a mirror, you can adjust your clothes and hat. By using history as a mirror, you can know the rise and fall of empires. By using man as a mirror, you can know your virtues and errors. Tai Cong, Tang Dynasty



How do you know what the fish think? You're not a fish. Hui Zi, Warring States period

One night I was a butterfly, fluttering happily around. Then I awoke, and I found that I was a man. But what am I in truth? A man who dreams he is a butterfly, or a butterfly who dreams he is a man? Zhuang Zi, Warring States Period

Whilst the last one is my favourite it is closely followed by  'Do not forget to take your wife when you move house'.

9 comments:

  1. wise quotes, indeed...especially about not forgetting one's wife!

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  2. And don't forget her laptop either!
    Thanks, Jo, so we can see what Sciptor has to say!

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  3. I like the one about being a fool when not asking.

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  4. I also like He who doesn’t reach the Great Wall is not a true man. Especially as I did make it to the wall.

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  5. I like 'Once a word is spoken four horses cannot drag it back.'for its wisdom and 'Do not forget to take your wife when you move house.' for its practicality and humour.

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  6. The Chinese proverbs and sayings are very deep. And my favorite is the last one!

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  7. "Do not forget to take your wife when you move house". Traditional

    Haha, this one struck a chord with me right now!

    SP

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  8. Loved the quotes - especially the one about remembering to take your wife when you move house. I actually sold one of our houses whilst David was working away. However, I was kind enough to ring him and let him know! Could not afford to wait - the house had been on the market for 24 hours and we got a buyer - those were the days!

    He did get home before we had to move out to our new house though!!

    Kind of Jo to let you use her lap top. x

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  9. SP - I hadn't thought of you when I wrote that but it now seems so apt!!

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