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Zicheng Hong Books

Philosopher

Zicheng Hong was a prominent philosopher during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. He is known for his contributions to Neo-Confucian philosophy, particularly his work on the nature of human nature and moral cultivation. His teachings have had a lasting impact on Chinese intellectual history.

A Chinese Garden of Serenity: Epigrams...

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“When the mind is possessed of reality, it feels tranquil and joyous even without music or song, and it produces a pure fragrance even without incense or tea.”

Feels Mind Reality Song Music Produce Pure Tea Possessed Fragrance Joyous Tranquil Incense Without Music

Book:A Chinese Garden of Serenity: Epigrams from the Ming Dynasty

Source: A Chinese Garden of Serenity: Epigrams from the Ming Dynasty

“A drop of water has the tastes of the water of the seven seas: there is no need to experience all the ways of worldly life. The reflections of the moon on one thousand rivers are from the same moon: the mind must be full of light.”

Way Life Needs Mind Light Spirituality Water Sea Taste Thousand Moon Reflection Rivers Seven Gardening Worldly Worldly Life Drop Of Water

Author:Zicheng Hong

“When you are but slightly involved in the world, the effect the world has on you is also slight. When you are deeply enmeshed in affairs, you machinations also deepen. So for enlightened people simplicity is better than refinement, and freedom is better than punctiliousness.”

People World Effects Involved Affair Simplicity Enlightened Taoism Refinement

Author:Zicheng Hong

“People are considered pure of heart when they do not approach power and pomp; but those who can be near without being affected are the purest of all. People are considered high-minded when they do not know how to plot and contrive; but those who know how yet do not do so are the highest of all.”

People Knows Heart Know How Pure Approach Highest Plot Taoism Affected

Author:Zicheng Hong

“When you are constantly hearing offensive words and always have some irritating matter in mind, only then do you have a whetstone for character development. If you hear only what pleases you, and deal only with what thrills you, then you are burying your life in deadly poison.”

Ifs Mind Matter Character Deals Development Please Hearing Poison Taoism Offensive Irritating Character Development Burying

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Late at night, when everyone is quiet, sit alone and gaze into the mind; then you notice illusion ending and reality appearing. You gain a great sense of potential in this every time. Once you have noticed reality appearing yet find that illusion is hard to escape, you also find yourself greatly humbled.”

Mind Hard Reality Night Quiet Late Illusion Gains Taoism Finding Yourself Appearing

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Blessings often give rise to injury, so be careful when things are going your way. Success may be achieved after failure, so don't just give up when you've been disappointed.”

Way Giving May Blessing Giving Up Careful Injury Taoism Disappointed Be Careful Just Give Up

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Those who live simply are often pure, while those who live luxuriously may be slavish and servile. It seems that the will is clarified by plainness, while conduct is ruined by indulgence.”

May Seems Pure Taoism Ruined Indulgence Live Simply Plainness

Author:Zicheng Hong

“There is a true Buddha in family life; there is a real Tao in everyday activities. If people can be sincere and harmonious, promoting communication with a cheerful demeanor and friendly words, that is much better than formal meditation practice.”

People Ifs Real Practice Meditation Communication Activity Everyday Friendly Taoism Sincere Formal Cheerful Tao Promoting Family Life Harmonious Meditation Practice Demeanor

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Don't be too severe in criticizing people's faults; consider how much they can bear. Don't be too lofty in enjoining virtue, so people may be able to follow.”

People May Able Virtue Bears Faults Taoism Criticize Severe Lofty

Author:Zicheng Hong

“A grub in filth is dirty, but it changes into a cicada and sips dew in the autumn breeze. Rotting plants have no luster, but they turn into foxfire and glow in the summer moonlight. So we know that purity emerges from impurity, and light is born from darkness.”

Knows Light Turns Born Darkness Summer Plant Dirty Purity Taoism Autumn Breeze Moonlight Dew Filth Rotting Impurity Luster Cicadas

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Conceit and arrogance are acquired states of mind. Conquer acquired states of mind, and basic sanity can unfold. Passion and willfulness are part of false consciousness; erase false consciousness, and true consciousness will appear.”

Mind States Passion Consciousness Conquer Arrogance Taoism Sanity State Of Mind Conceit Erase Willfulness

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Think about food on a full stomach and you find you don't care about taste. Think of lust after making love, and you find you don't care about sex. Therefore, if people always reflect on the regret they will feel afterward to forestall folly at the moment, they will be stable and will not err in action.”

People Ifs Thinking Feels Moments Care Action Sex Regret Taste Don't Care Lust Folly Taoism Stomach Stable Making Love

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Those who have come to an impasse should examine their original intentions; those who have succeeded should note where they are heading.”

Should Originals Intention Notes Taoism Headings Impasse

Author:Zicheng Hong

“When the rich and well-established, who should be generous, are instead spiteful and cruel, they make their behavior wretched and base in spite of their wealth and position. When the intellectually brilliant, who should be reserved, instead show off, they are ignorant and foolish in their weakness in spite of their brilliance.”

Should Wells Shows Wealth Rich Position Behavior Weakness Brilliant Foolish Ignorant Generous Spite Taoism Wretched Brilliance Reserved Showing Off Spiteful

Author:Zicheng Hong

“After one has been in a lowly position, one knows how dangerous it is to climb to a high place, Once one has been in the dark, one knows how revealing it is to go into the light. Having maintained quietude, one knows how tiring compulsive activity is. Having nurtured silence, one knows how disturbing much talk is.”

Knows Has Beens Light Dark Silence Know How Dangerous Position Activity Climbs Taoism Tire Revealing Disturbing High Places

Author:Zicheng Hong

“To conquer demons, first conquer your mind. When the mind is subdued, demons withdraw obediently. To control knaves, first control your own mood. When your mood is balanced, scoundrels cannot get at you.”

Mind Firsts Mood Conquer Demon Taoism Balanced Scoundrels Knaves

Author:Zicheng Hong

“In matters of desire, don't get hastily involved because of easy availability; once you get involved, you will sink in deeply. In matters of principle, don't back off for fear of difficulty; once you back down, you will lose your ground entirely.”

Matter Desire Easy Loses Principles Involved Difficulty Taoism Get Involved Availability

Author:Zicheng Hong

“When people are determined, they can overcome fate; when the will is unified, it can mobilize energy. Enlightened people do not even let nature put them in a set mold.”

People Energy Fate Overcoming Determined Enlightened Taoism Mold Unified

Author:Zicheng Hong

“When the liver is diseased, the eyesight fails; when the kidneys are diseased, the hearing is adversely affected. The disease is not visible, but its effects are. Therefore, enlightened people, wishing to be free from obvious faults, first get rid of hidden faults.”

People Firsts Wish Failing Effects Disease Faults Obvious Hearing Visible Enlightened Taoism Affected Liver Kidneys Diseased Eyesight

Author:Zicheng Hong

“There is no greater fortune than having few concerns, no greater misfortune than having many worries. Only those who have suffered over their concerns know the blessing of having few concerns. Only those who have calmed their minds know the misfortune of having many worries.”

Knows Mind Worry Greater Blessing Concern Fortune Taoism Misfortunes

Author:Zicheng Hong

“In dealing with good people one should be magnanimous; in dealing with bad people one should be strict. In dealing with average people one should combine magnanimity and strictness.”

People Should Average Taoism Good People Strict Bad People Magnanimity Magnanimous

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Do not think about whatever service you may have done for others; think about what you may have done to offend them. Don't forget what others have done for you; forget what others have done to offend you.”

Thinking May Done Forget Taoism

Author:Zicheng Hong

“When those who give charity do so without any sense of self-satisfaction and without any thought of reward, even a small gift is great. When those who aid others calculate their own sacrifice and demand gratitude and recompense, even a great gift is small.”

Giving Self Sacrifice Gratitude Demand Charity Rewards Satisfaction Aids Taoism Sense Of Self Great Gifts Self-satisfaction Recompense Small Gifts

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Your own feelings may be reasonable or unreasonable; how can you expect others to always be reasonable? It is useful to see things in this light and thereby correct the contradictions in your expectations for yourself and others.”

May Feelings Light Expectations Reasonable Contradiction Taoism Unreasonable

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Those in public office who do not love the people are thieves stealing salaries. Those who teach but do not themselves practice what they teach are mere talkers. Those who try to do successful work without considering development of character will find it insubstantial.”

People Trying Character Teach Practice Successful Development Office Mere Stealing Taoism Thieves Considering Salary Talkers Public Office Successful Work

Author:Zicheng Hong

“In the mind engaged in struggling with hardship, one always finds something delightful. The sorrow of disappointment arises in the complacency of satisfaction.”

Mind Struggle Sorrow Disappointment Satisfaction Arise Engaged Taoism Hardship Delightful Complacency

Author:Zicheng Hong

“The learned should be vigorous and diligent, but they should also be free-spirited. If they are too rigorous and austere, they have the death-dealing quality of autumn but lack the life-giving quality of spring. How can they develop people then?”

People Ifs Giving Should Quality Spring Taoism Autumn Vigorous Diligent Spirited

Author:Zicheng Hong

“If the mind is illumined, there is clear blue sky in a dark room. If the thoughts are muddled, there are malevolent ghosts in broad daylight.”

Ifs Mind Dark Rooms Clear Sky Blue Ghost Taoism Broads Daylight Blue Sky Dark Room Clear Blue Sky

Author:Zicheng Hong

“People know that fame and position are pleasant, but they do not know that the pleasure of anonymity is most real. People know that hunger and cold are distressing, but they do not know that the distress of not experiencing cold or hunger is greater.”

People Knows Real Pleasure Greater Position Cold Fame Hunger Pleasant Taoism Distress Anonymity Distressing

Author:Zicheng Hong

“If you fear that people will know if you do something bad, then there is something good in bad. If you are eager for people to know when you do something good, then there is something bad in good.”

People Ifs Knows Taoism

Author:Zicheng Hong

“The workings of heaven are unfathomable-sometimes encouraging, sometimes suppressing. All this makes sport of heroes and tumbles the great. Enlightened people take adversity in stride and are prepared for trouble even when at ease; therefore, they are not at the mercy of fate.”

People Sometimes Heaven Sports Fate Trouble Hero Mercy Adversity Prepared Ease Enlightened Taoism Stride Unfathomable Suppressing

Author:Zicheng Hong

“One should not seek happiness, just nurture the spirit of joy as the basis of summoning happiness. One should not try to escape misfortune, just get rid of viciousness as a means of avoiding misfortune.”

Should Trying Mean Joy Spirit Bases Taoism Misfortunes Nurture Avoiding Summoning

Author:Zicheng Hong

“The road of truth is broad; set the mind on it, and you feel expansive openness and broad clarity. The road of human desires is narrow; set foot on it, and you see brambles and mire before you.”

Feels Mind Humans Desire Feet Truth Is Clarity Taoism Broads Openness

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Soil with a lot of manure in it produces abundant crops; water that is too clear has no fish. Therefore, enlightened people should maintain the capacity to accept impurities and should not be solitary perfectionists.”

People Should Water Accepting Clear Produce Capacity Fishes Soil Enlightened Taoism Solitary Crops Perfectionist Manure Impurity

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Even a wild horse can be tamed; even metal that is difficult to work eventually goes into a mold. If you take it easy and do not stir yourself, you will never make any progress. It has been said, "It is no disgrace to have many afflictions: I would worry if there never were any afflictions."”

Ifs Has Beens Said Easy Difficult Worry Progress Horse Taoism Metals Affliction Disgrace Mold Tamed Take It Easy Wild Horses

Author:Zicheng Hong

“...people of old deemed freedom from greed precious, and this is how they got beyond the world.”

People World Greed Taoism

Author:Zicheng Hong

“The eyes and ears, seeing and hearing, are external plunderers; emotions, desires, and opinions are internal plunderers. But if the inner mind is awake and alert, sitting aloof in the middle of it all, then these plunderers change and become members of the household.”

Ifs Mind Eye Desire Emotion Opinion Seeing Middle Members Sitting Ears Hearing Awake Internals Taoism Household Aloof

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Even if you do no work that is particularly lofty or far-reaching, if you can shed mundane feelings, that is a great achievement. Even if you do not strive much for progress in learning, if you can minimize the influence things have on you, you will soar into the realm of sages.”

Ifs Feelings Progress Influence Achievement Strive Realms Reaching Taoism Shed Soar Sage Mundane Lofty Great Achievement

Author:Zicheng Hong

“In whatever you do, if you leave a sense of incompleteness, then Creation cannot resent you, ghosts and spirits cannot harm you. If you insist on fulfillment in your work and perfection in achievement, you will become either inwardly deranged or outwardly unsettled.”

Ifs Spirit Creation Achievement Perfection Harm Ghost Fulfillment Taoism Resent Deranged Incompleteness Resent You

Author:Zicheng Hong

“If a poor house is well kept, or a poor girl well groomed, there is elegance if not beauty. If good people should come upon hard times, why should they immediately give up on themselves?”

People Ifs Giving Should Wells Hard Girl House Poor Giving Up Hard Times Taoism Good People Elegance

Author:Zicheng Hong

“If you are not lax when at leisure, you will be effective when busy. If you are not absentminded in tranquility, that will be useful in action. If you are not hypocritical in private, that will show up in public.”

Ifs Shows Action Busy Taoism Leisure Tranquility Hypocritical Lax

Author:Zicheng Hong

“When thoughts arise, as soon as you sense them heading on the road of desire, bring them right back onto the road of reason. Once they arise, notice them, once you notice them, you can change them. This is the key to turning calamity into fortune, rising from death and returning to life.”

Reason Desire Keys Fortune Arise Rising Taoism Calamity Headings

Author:Zicheng Hong

“In adversity, everything that surrounds you is a kind of medicine that helps you refine your conduct, yet you are unaware of it. In pleasant situations, you are faced with weapons that will tear you apart, yet you do not realize it.”

Kind Helping Realizing Situation Tears Weapons Adversity Medicine Pleasant Taoism Surround

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Delicious foods are drugs that will inflame the gut and rot the bones, but there is no harm if one eats moderately. Delightful things are all purveyors of destruction and decadence, but there is no regret if one enjoys them moderately.”

Ifs Enjoy Regret Drug Destruction Bones Harm Guts Taoism Delightful Delicious No Regrets Decadence Delicious Food Delightful Things

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Valuing unusual conduct is not as good as being careful about ordinary actions.”

Action Ordinary Careful Taoism Unusual

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Compromise to please others is not as good as integrity that annoys others. Rather than be praised without being good, it is better to be slandered without being bad.”

Integrity Please Be Good Compromise Taoism Annoying Being Bad

Author:Zicheng Hong

“When one is not slipshod in small matters, not hypocritical in secret, and not reckless in disappointment, only then is one a true hero.”

Matter Secret Hero Disappointment Taoism Reckless Hypocritical True Hero

Author:Zicheng Hong

“A thousand pieces of gold may hardly bring a moment's happiness, but a small favor can cause a lifetime's gratitude. Too much love can turn to enmity, while aloofness can produce joy.”

May Moments Joy Turns Causes Too Much Pieces Produce Gratitude Thousand Gold Lifetime Favors Taoism Enmity Much Love Aloofness

Author:Zicheng Hong

“People's shortcomings should be treated with tact; if you expose them crudely, this is attacking weakness with a weakness. When people are stubborn, it requires skill to influence them; if you treat them with anger and spite, this is treating stubbornness with stubbornness.”

People Ifs Should Influence Skills Weakness Treats Treated Spite Taoism Stubborn Attacking Shortcomings Stubbornness Tact

Author:Zicheng Hong

About the Author

Born: 1593
Died: 1665
Known for: Philosopher
Quotes: 95

Related Topics

Taoism People Ifs Mind Should Enlightened May Way Desire Knows

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

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A Chinese Garden of Serenity: Epigrams from the Ming DynastyRelated source material

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