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Zicheng Hong Quotes

Philosopher

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Famous Zicheng Hong Quotes

“Diligence means to be keen in matters of virtue and justice, but worldly people use diligence to solve their economic difficulties. Frugality means to have little desire for material goods, but worldly people use frugality as a cover for stinginess. Thus do watchwords of enlightened life turn into tools for the private business of small people. What a pity!”

PeopleMeanLittlesMatterUseDesireTurnsJusticeVirtueEconomicMaterialsToolsDifficultySolvePityEnlightenedTaoismGoodsWorldlyDiligenceFrugalityStinginess
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“The substance of mind is the substance of heaven. A joyful thought is an auspicious star or a felicitous cloud. An angry thought is a thunderstorm or a violent rain. A kind thought is a gentle breeze or a sweet dew. A stern thought is a fierce sun or an autumn frost. Which of these can be eliminated? Just let them pass away as they arise, open and unresisting, and your mind merges with the spacious sky.”

MindKindHeavenStarsSunSkySweetRainAngryCloudsViolentAriseSubstanceGentleTaoismAutumnFierceJoyfulBreezeDewPassing AwayFrostThunderstormKind Thoughts
Author:Zicheng Hong
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“Sexual desire may burn like fire, but when you give a thought to when you are ill, then your excitement dies down. Fame and fortune may be sweet as candy, but when you give a thought to when you die, then their flavor is like chewing wax. Therefore, if people are usually concerned about death and illness, this can also dissolve unreal activities and develop longing for the way.”

PeopleIfsWayGivingMayDesireDiesFireSweetActivityFameConcernedLongingFortuneIllIllnessExcitementTaoismFlavorCandyUnrealChewingSexual Desire
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“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.”

PeopleKnowsDoeMadeGivenSimplePowerfulAttitudeLordKnow HowRichHavensKingsCitizensOrdinaryGoldBitterTaoismFoxesCoatsGreedyDeliciousJewelsBeggarFurDelicacyResentfulOrdinary CitizensGreedy People
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“The powerful and prominent soar like dragons, the heroic and valiant fight like tigers: but if you look upon them with cool eyes, they are like ants gathering on rancid meet, like flies swarming on blood. Judgments of right and wrong bristle like porcupine quills: but if you meet them with cool feelings, that is like a forge melting metal, like hot water dissolving snow.”

IfsLooksFeelingsEyeFightingWaterPowerfulBloodJudgmentHotSnowLook UpDragonsTaoismHeroicMetalsTigersSoarGatheringAntsMeltingProminentValiantDissolvingHot WaterQuillsPorcupines
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“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.”

PeopleKnowsMindStatesWishRootsForgottenOneselfTaoismDislikeTranquilityEgotismDisturbanceClamor
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“The realms of good fortune and calamity in human life are all made of thoughts and imaginings. Therefore Buddhists say that the burning of desire for gain is itself a pit of fire, while drowning in greedy love is itself a bitter sea. The moment thoughts are pure, fierce flames become a pond; the moment you become aware, the boat has arrived on the further shore. If your thoughts vary at all, your world will immediately differ, so can we not be careful?”

IfsWorldHumansMadeMomentsDesireLove IsFireSeaPureGainsFortuneCarefulBitterBoatBuddhistBurningHuman LifeFlamesRealmsTaoismShoreBe CarefulFierceGreedyPitsDrowningCalamityGood FortuneVaryPonds
Author:Zicheng Hong
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