The Secret of Advancing and Retreating in Life and Deeds

Author: Li Hao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features:
A wise person can win the world's abundant rewards. — Napoleon
A person should be like a bee, never losing direction amidst a sea of flowers. — Montaigne
To be a person, one should be like the sun, warming all directions in flames; to do things, one should be like the moon, transparent and calm in stillness. — Thoreau
A smart person does not seek immediate success but observes the target like an eagle, then plans their actions to bear the sweet fruits of success on the tree of triumph. — Rocker
Some say that success in life depends on wit, while success in work depends on methods. Some say that a person should be cunning, while work should be calculated. Some say that honest people cannot succeed, as they are easily taken advantage of. Some say that kind people cannot succeed, as they are often bullied. Others say that the theories of how to be a person and how to do things are piled up higher than Mount Everest. But you and I are ordinary people, gazing up at such a towering peak, inevitably feeling uneasy and confused, as if distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. In fact, what we truly desire and need may not be these profound theories!
So, on the long journey of life, what do we need? What we truly need is not theories as high as mountains. It is easy to talk but hard to do, and who doesn’t know the big principles? What we need is merely a tangible staff of wisdom in our hands, which will help us climb the peaks of life and pick the garlands of success and happiness we desire.
Being a person and doing things are indeed not easy tasks, otherwise, why would so many people write so many theories? As a result, being a person seems to have become an extra credit question at the end of a math test—without a fixed answer or a set pattern—leading to widespread thought, discussion, and controversy among all walks of life. Yet, what can be certain is that being a person and doing things is like sailing in the ocean of life. You must have the ability to see six directions with your eyes and hear eight directions with your ears. When encountering reefs, turn flexibly to turn danger into safety; when facing storms, bravely fight to save the situation. Advance without hesitation when it is time, and retreat without foolishness when it is necessary. In short, the rudder is in your hands. You must have a clear goal, remain calm, adapt to changes, as the saying goes, "Those who understand the times are wise." Only then can you navigate the vast ocean of life, move with ease, and create brilliance.
As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." This book is just such a tool. It teaches you not only knowledge but, more importantly, the methods and skills to learn knowledge. In life, to be a person who is smooth and to do things perfectly is the great realm everyone pursues. So, why not open this book? It uses beautiful language to illuminate brilliant wisdom. Perhaps it is not the "magic elixir" on the road of life, but it is absolutely an indispensable "wisdom banquet" in your life!