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Stanza 20
'A hen, when at rest, produces much fruit;
A peacock, when it remains still, has a handsome tail;
A gentle horse has a swift pace;
The quiescence of a holy man is the sign of his being a
sage.'
Stanza 29
'Not to be cheered by praise,
Not to be grieved by blame,
But to know thoroughly one's own virtues or powers
Are the characteristics of an excellent man.'
Stanza 33
'In the same place where the Great Lord [Buddha] is present
Who would acknowledge any other man?
When the Sun has arisen, though there be many bright
stars in the sky,
Not one of them is visible.'
Stanza 58
'A foolish man proclaims his qualifications;
A wise man keeps them secret within himself;
A straw floats on the surface of the water,
But a precious gem placed upon it sinks.'
Stanza 59
'It is only narrow-minded men that make such distinctions
As "This is our friend, this our enemy";
A liberal-minded man shows affection for all,
For it is uncertain who may yet be of aid to one.'
Stanza 74
'An excellent man, like precious metal,
Is in every way invariable;
A villain, like the beams of a balance,
Is always varying, upwards and downwards.'
Stanza 118
'Much talking is a source of danger;
Silence is the means of avoiding misfortune:
The talkative parrot is shut up in a cage;
Other birds, which cannot talk, fly about freely.'
Stanza 134
'The greatest wealth consists in being charitable,
And the greatest happiness in having tranquility of mind.
Experience is the most beautiful adornment;
And the best comrade is one that has no desires.'
Stanza 173
'Men of little ability, too,
By depending upon the great, may prosper;
A drop of water is a little thing,
But when will it dry away if united to a lake?'
Stanza 182
'Hurtful expressions should never be used,
Not even against an enemy;
For inevitably they will return to one,
Like an echo from a rock.'
Stanza 208
'When about to perform any great work,
Endeavor to have a trustworthy associate;
If one would burn down a forest,
The aid of a wind is, of course, needed.'
Stanza 228
'Meditation without Knowledge, [1] though giving results for awhile
Will, in the end, be devoid of true success;
One may melt gold and silver completely,
But once the fire is gone, they grow hard again.'
[1] Or without the guiding teachings of a guru.
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