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Quote by Zicheng Hong

“A net set up to catch fish may snare a duck; a mantis hunting an insect may itself be set upon by a sparrow. Machinations are hidden within machinations; changes arise beyond changes. So how can wit and cleverness be relied upon?”

Quote by Zicheng Hong

Author

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. more

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“When water isn't rippled, it is naturally still. When a mirror isn't clouded, it is clear of itself. So the mind is not to be cleared; get rid of what muddles it, and its clarity will spontaneously appear. Pleasure need not be sought; get rid of what pains you, and pleasure is naturally there.”

Needs Mind Stills Pain Water Pleasure Clear Mirrors Clarity Taoism Clouded Muddle

Author:Zicheng Hong

“One of our predecessors said, "Throwing away the inexhaustible treasury of your own home, you go with your bowl from door to door, acting like a beggar"”

Said Home Acting Doors Taoism Throwing Bowls Beggar Treasury Predecessors Throwing Away

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Those who trust others will find that not everyone is necessarily sincere, but they will be sincere themselves. Those who suspect others will find that not everyone is necessarily deceiving them, but they have already become deceivers themselves.”

Taoism Suspects Sincere Deceiving Deceiver Trust Others

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Those who are broad-minded and considerate are like the spring breeze, warm and nurturing, at show touch all being grow. Those who are envious an d cruel are like the snow of the northlands, stilling and freezing, at whose touch all beings die.”

Shows Dies Grows Spring Warm Snow Taoism Broads Breeze Nurturing Envious Freezing Considerate

Author:Zicheng Hong

“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!”

People Mean Littles Matter Use Desire Turns Justice Virtue Economic Materials Tools Difficulty Solve Pity Enlightened Taoism Goods Worldly Diligence Frugality Stinginess

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Those who act on excitement act intermittently; this is hardly the way to avoid regression. Those whose understanding comes from emotional perceptions are as confused as they are enlightened; this is not a lamp that is constantly bright.”

Way Understanding Emotional Perception Excitement Confused Enlightened Taoism Lamps Regression

Author:Zicheng Hong

“You should be forgiving when others make mistakes, but not when the mistakes are in you. You should be patient under duress yourself, but not when it affects others.”

Should Mistake Forgiving Patient Making Mistakes Taoism Be Patient Duress

Author:Zicheng Hong

“Generosity should begin lightly and deepen later, fro when it is first rich and then lessens, people forget the kindness. Authority should begin strictly and loosen up later, for if it is loose first and then strict, people will resent the severity.”

People Ifs Should Firsts Forget Kindness Rich Authority Generosity Taoism Strict Resent Severity

Author:Zicheng Hong

“If you do not join the polluted, then you are pure; if you reject society in search of purity, that is not purity but fanaticism.”

Ifs Pure Purity Taoism Rejects Fanaticism

Author:Zicheng Hong

“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.”

Mind Kind Heaven Stars Sun Sky Sweet Rain Angry Clouds Violent Arise Substance Gentle Taoism Autumn Fierce Joyful Breeze Dew Passing Away Frost Thunderstorm Kind Thoughts

Author:Zicheng Hong