–Mao Zedong, February 1961 Bright, brave, and keen with five-foot gun in hand,First light of dawn gilds the training ground.China’s sons and daughters hold lofty, bold command –They love arms, not rouge, their warrior hearts unbound.
–Mao Zedong, October 1955 The spring river vast and wide awhile doth stray;We climb tiered peaks, our vision cleared, far away.Wind from green isles bears surging waves astray;Rain from wild fields ascends the hills to stay.By wine cups, we laugh and talk – old friends still gay;Abroad, trivial strife like chicken–worm fray.Mourn not how…
– by Mao Zedong, 1925 I stand alone in the autumn chillOn the bank of the Xiang River, heading north,Watching the thousands of hills blaze redAnd the woods dyed layer upon layer.The river stretches clear, a hundred boats racing across the waves.Eagles strike the sky, fish dart in the shallow depths –All creatures strive…
Confucius said, “The noble person has three things to guard against: in youth, when one’s vital energies (xue qi) are not yet settled, guard against lust; in prime adulthood, when vital energies are at their strongest and most vigorous, guard against contentiousness; in old age, when vital energies have declined, guard against greed.”