Home / Authors / Zicheng Hong

Zicheng Hong Quotes

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.

Filter quotes by topic

All Taoism People Ifs Mind Should Enlightened May Way Desire Knows Giving Feelings Careful Clear Fortune Humans Pure World Arise Dies

Famous Zicheng Hong Quotes

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“When greedy people are given gold, they are bitter that they haven't gotten jewels; when they are made barons they are resentful that they haven't been made lords. Though powerful and rich, their attitude is that of beggars. For those who know how to be content, simple fare is more delicious than rich delicacies, a cloth coat is warmer than fox fur, and an ordinary citizen does not defer to a king or a lord.”

“If you know that whatever is made inevitable breaks down, you needn't seek too hard for achievement. If you know that all living beings inevitably die, you needn't work too hard on health lore.”

Ifs Knows Made Hard Dies Break Achievement Inevitable Taoism Breaking Down

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Those who like tranquility and dislike clamor tend to avoid people to seek quietude. They do not know that when one wishes there were no one around, that is egotism; and when the mind is attached to quietude, that is the root of disturbance. How can they reach the state where others and oneself are seen as one, where disturbance and quietude are both forgotten.”

People Knows Mind States Wish Roots Forgotten Oneself Taoism Dislike Tranquility Egotism Disturbance Clamor

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 Giving Feelings Careful Clear Fortune Humans Pure World Arise Dies

Popular Topics

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

Books & Sources

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

Similar Authors

LaoziBrowse related quotes
Lie YukouBrowse related quotes
Lu Jun HongBrowse related quotes
James LeggeBrowse related quotes
Sun Bu'erBrowse related quotes
Jian YangBrowse related quotes
Bai JuyiBrowse related quotes
ZhuangziBrowse related quotes
Jan Jakob Maria de GrootBrowse related quotes
Meng HaoranBrowse related quotes