In his monumental work *Records of the Grand Historian*, Sima Qian often wove in folk proverbs—simple sayings that still hold profound wisdom today.
A spoiled child rarely respects their parents. Kindness taken for granted breeds no gratitude. Friendships built on power or profit fade when fortune shifts. Only hearts joined in sincerity endure.
When someone errs, excessive punishment only adds another wrong. Justice must be measured. Some people grow old together yet remain strangers; others connect in a single moment as soulmates. Understanding has nothing to do with time.
A virtuous person needs no self-promotion—like a fruit tree, people are naturally drawn to its shade. In business, know what not to chase. Long hauls of cheap goods invite ruin. Learn from past failures; they are your best teachers.
Never judge a horse by its thinness, nor a person by their poverty. Prejudice blinds us to true worth. And don't steer life by ancient maps alone—adapt to the road ahead. Wisdom lies not in rigid rules, but in mindful action.
Remember: yesterday's lesson is today's compass.