Night Talks by the Stove says: “When poverty leaves one no choice, one can only seek frugality; even if clumsy, it does no harm so long as one is diligent.”
Life’s circumstances always rise and fall. True growth does not lie in rushing to surpass others, but in being a little more solid today than yesterday.
It also says: “Friendships endure in plainness; longevity is prolonged in quietude.” Intense heat disperses easily, while the plain and ordinary lasts long. To keep one’s original mind in quietness is the wisdom of living. It further says: “Seek a conscience to govern myself; leave some room when dealing with others.” In being a person, one only seeks peace of mind; in dealing with the world, one always leaves room.
May you have a little less anxiety and a little more composure; a little less calculation and a little more firmness. If the heart has light, ordinary days can also be warm and bright.