“Rather than praising and thinking of Heaven as great, wouldn’t it be better to gather, nurture, and control the things that Heaven bestows? Rather than simply following and honoring Heaven, wouldn’t it be better to control and utilize what Heaven has bestowed upon us? Rather than waiting for the right time, wouldn’t it be better to take advantage of it? Rather than simply leaving things in place, hoping for their multiplication, wouldn’t it be better to exercise our abilities and transform them? Rather than thinking of possessions and assuming all things are ours, wouldn’t it be better to organize them so we don’t lose them? Rather than simply admiring the nature that creates things, wouldn’t it be better to create them? Therefore, if we abandon our human perspective and only consider Heaven, we will soon lose sight of the true nature of all things.”
---From page 31, 'It is better to make it yourself than to look to the sky'

As Confucius said, isn't a true leader like the pine and cedar trees in midwinter, enduring and overcoming adversity? Isn't a person who studies extensively, conducts himself virtuously, and bides his time like a gentleman, like the pine and cypress? Isn't a leader someone who perseveres in the face of adversity, steadfastly persevering and overcoming it?
---From "Page 65, 'Orchids in the Forest Give Off Their Fragrance Even When No One Sees'"

If the Analects speak of the fundamentals that humans should possess, the Xunzi speaks of a strategy that delves deeply.
During times of national stability, leaders adopted Confucianism, including the Analects of Confucius, as the foundational philosophy of state administration. During times of war or hegemony, such as the Warring States Period, leaders adopted the Legalist thought of Xun Zi and Han Feizi as the foundational philosophy of state administration.
If the Analects and Mencius speak of an ideal world, then Xunzi speaks of reality.
In times of peace, it's natural to talk about ideals, but in times of upheaval, we need more realistic philosophies and alternatives that can overcome reality.
When life is going well, it is a good idea to read the Analects or Mencius.
However, in a time of change and challenge, such as the Warring States period, it is better to read Xunzi.
Because the stories of the wise men of old, from over 2,000 years ago, are repeated even today.
---From page 77, 'Will You Be Honored or Shameful?'

Just because your first half of life is disappointing doesn't mean your second half will be disappointing, and just because your first half of life is satisfying doesn't mean your second half will be satisfying.
The past is just the past and the future is just the future.
Among those who think they can do it, there are those who do it.
Of all the people who think they can't do something, there isn't a single one who does.
This is wisdom.
---From page 101, "Do you have the courage to tell the difference between right and wrong?"

It is difficult for me to know myself properly.
It's the same with other people knowing me well.
Although my past self and my present self are clearly different, it is not easy to recognize this.
So, without realizing it, I might be living today like yesterday and tomorrow like today.
People write as a tool to strengthen their strengths.
If you want to let go of your past experiences, just stay still.
Because time erases everything.
If you want to make use of your experiences so far, you need to leave a record of them.
This is also why more and more people are writing and organizing their writing during their half-time.
If you worked for 10 years, you leave behind 10 years of records, and if you worked for 20 years, you leave behind 20 years of records.
One of the most important things to do during the half-time of your life is to keep records and organize them.
---From "The Bright King Knows the Names of Great Scholars" on pages 149-151

The 'Zhong' in 'Zhongyong' does not mean 'middle' or 'going in the middle', but should be interpreted as 'timely', 'on target', and 'focused'.
First of all, the word 'shijung' means 'there is a time for everything, so do it in due time.'
Timing is often crucial in life, so it's important to get the timing right.
Next, hitting the target means 'when the archer draws the bowstring, he aligns the arrowhead with the center of the target.'
In other words, it means the sincerity and effort to pursue work and goals in exact alignment.
Because any problem can be easily solved by grasping the core of the problem and shaking it.
Concentration also refers to 'the effort to get closer to the essence or core of the work.'
---From page 175, 'Aim the arrowhead at the center of the target'

Fifty is the turning point in becoming a mature adult.
If you look at life with a little more leeway, you will see beautiful aspects of life that you had not seen before.
If my life up until now has been a life of learning, I hope that my life from now on will be a life of teaching.
If you've lived your life saying what you want to say until now, I hope that from now on you can be happy saying what others want to hear.
If your life up until now has been a life of accumulation, your life from now on will be a life of sharing, and you will be happier.
If your life up until now has been a life of running, then from now on it can be a life of walking.
If life up until now has been a fast life, it's okay if life from now on is a slow life.
If you have lived a life of being pushed around until now, it would be good to start living a life of pushing forward from now on.

---From "Page 212, 'Be a carpenter to yourself and a boatman to others'"

The idiom "청추어람" means "The blue dye is taken from indigo, but it is bluer than indigo" and is a four-character idiom from the "Xunzi".
Blue dye is made from blue indigo, but is bluer than indigo, and it is made from crushed black wood ash, but is blacker than black ash.
Xun Zi is a Confucian scholar who cannot exist without Confucius.
He is a scholar who studied Confucius's Confucianism more deeply than anyone else and studied it from various perspectives.
He was a Confucian scholar who followed the path of Confucius and worked to put Confucianism into practice during the Warring States Period.
Sunja talks about the importance of education.
The first sentence of the "Xunzi" emphasizes that with proper and appropriate education and learning, one can become a better student than his teacher anytime and anywhere.
The Analects, written by Confucius' disciples, also begins with a passage about learning.
---From "Page 238, 'Blue Paint is Bluer than Indigo'"

In the “Book of Knowledge,” Xunzi used the example of a thousand-mile horse and a dull horse to say that if you study with a single-minded heart and perseverance, you can achieve great results regardless of your talent.
It would be great if you had the ability of a thousand-lima horse, but even a dull horse can follow a thousand-lima horse if you put in ten times the time and effort, so anyone can achieve academic success if they just work hard.
---From "Page 252, 'A dull horse can only follow a thousand-mile horse, though it is slow'"

You have to cross.
Once you see the stepping stones, you can cross them without difficulty by adjusting your stride.
But if the stepping stones were underwater and there was no one to tell you exactly where they were, you wouldn't be able to even think about taking a single step.
Sunja also emphasized the need for a teacher.
The Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period, when learning itself was nearly impossible without seeking out a teacher, may have played a role, but Xunzi said, “There is no more convenient way than getting close to a teacher, and there is no faster way than liking and following that teacher.”

---From "Page 267, 'If you get close to the teacher, you can cross the road easily'"