The Thinkers

We often use quotes pertaining to wisdom in social networking statuses but probably never ask about their source. It is inspiring how most popular quotations like “never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself” and “it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop” were actually said by philosophers and thinkers more than 2000 years ago. The following historical legends are considered the pioneers of philosophy. Some people actually perceive them as prophets, as higher level humans. Some other people would not acknowledge the importance of their contribution to humanity. But eventually, the fact that we still use their quotes to inspire ourselves is the best proof of their everlasting essence. And the fact that they overlap in many common ideologies might be a remarkable clue that there exists some sort of guidance to the meaning and purpose of life.

Confucius:  Chinese       Master Kong        1st Chinese Teacher              (551 BC - 479 BC)

Gautama Buddha:     Indian             Founder of Buddism                         (563 BC - 483 BC)

Socrates:                   Greek             Teacher of Plato                               (469 BC - 399 BC)

Plato:                         Greek             Teacher of Aristotle                  (424/423 BC - 348/347 BC)

Aristotle:                   Greek             Teacher of Alexander                      (384 BC - 322 BC)

Alexander the great: Greek            Expanded Greece to its largest         (356 BC - 323 BC)

This list shows the basic information for comparison. Notice their life span. Confucius and Buddha's teachings are still implemented nowadays in the east. Notice also how the Greek philosophers form a series and how, or seems to be, Alexander the Great have used all this knowledge to expand the Greek Empire to its greatest  time in all history. To know more about the philosophers click their names.

Confucius Statue in his Temple. In Qufu, Shandong Province, China

Confucius Tomb in the Confucian Forest Cementary. In Qufu also.

The 3 Wise Monkeys - See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil, and the last one...I don't bother! (actually its do no evil). An ideology originated by many philosophers including Confucius

Confucius Quotes:

“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart" 

“Real Knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance"

“He who would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools"

"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves"

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand"

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”

"Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself”
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do"
"He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good"

“The superior man is aware of righteousness, the inferior man is aware of advantage"
“He who learns but does not thing, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn, is in great danger"
"When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves"

“If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?"

Buddha Quotes:

"The thought manifests as the word;

The word manifests as the deed;

The deed develops into habit;

And habit hardens into character;

So watch the thought and its ways with care,

And let it spring from love

Born out of concern for all beings…

As the shadow follows the body,

As we think, so we become"

Socrates Quotations:

"Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live"

Plato Quotes:

"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something"

"He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden"

Aristotle Quotes:

"Well begun is half done"

"We make war that we may live in peace"

"A likely impossibility is always preferable to an unconvincing possibility"

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit"

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it"

"It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it"

"I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of law"

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire"

Yin & Yang symbol of Taoism. The interconnection of the opposites.

These are best of their quotes. To read more quotes click on the links of each 'philosopher quotes'.

Chinese Valentine's Day

Today August 6th 2011, and the 7th day of the 7th month in the Chinese calendar is the Chinese Valentine's Day. It is also known as the Double Seven Day. (Click to read the legendary story behind it).

The God of Marriage who lives on the Moon and grants wishes

It is nice how the Chinese still have and stick to their distinct traditional celebrations. We went with Saeed's team on a trip around Yantai to its most luxurious district, Laishan. Almost everyone of who accompanied us came with their fiancés. They said that at 21-22 years of age almost all Chinese would have a life partner, but they do not marry until around 27-30 years when they have assured owning a home and a car, and secured a long-term full-time career. It is nice how, even for this long time of preparing for marriage, they stick to their commitment because they know that they would not have chosen to be in a serious relation if they were not meant to be for each other.

More than 3 couples in our teams are having their weddings in September. The company hosts a collective wedding to ease it on new brides and grooms. The company also hosts an annual party only for who do not have partners aiming to create possible opportunities.

Here, even for this kind of serious relationship in which we would refer to the partners as fiancés, they still refer to each other as girl-friend & boy-friend. Maybe because they could not find a better translation in English. And having a girlfriend is an issue here, it is one of the 3 major questions they ask... From where are you? What is your name? Do you have a girlfriend...would you want a Chinese! For the Chinese having a life partner is essential, they do not believe in 'enjoying life and changing partners every other day' or 'not getting married because the divorce rate is high and it will not work with us' or 'trying as many to know who is best.' They do seek stability in life and get satisfied by what they have, and by forming a family they fulfill the collective  nature of the Chinese society.

Locking their Hearts together

Also, a wedding tradition is that the guests gift the bride and groom a sack of cash money, not materialistic presents. They believe that this is a better rewarding present which will actually assist the new couple in starting their life by using the money for a real benefit rather than receiving costly flowers or gifts that they would stack and not use. Generally, a colleague would gift around 300-500 Yuans and a close friend or relative would gift around 500-1000 Yuan. It seems much more practical especially for the relatively low income people get in China.

The Love Tree and Swing

Lifestyle - Part 1

Here are some general traits and habits in the Chinese daily lifestyle.

• The Chinese have breakfast at 7am, lunch at 11am, and dinner at 5:30pm. Took us 2 weeks to get used.

• They sleep early, usually 9pm, and at 10pm all the city is asleep. We still don’t do this.

• They always eat together and always share food. They rarely get meals independently.

• Especially after food, they burp freely and with no consideration of people around. They of course mean no disrespect. It might be a social norm.

• When they feel hot (even in public), you see them raise their t-shirt and expose their belly and continue walking normally, as if the belly is the secret of releasing the heat.

• They don’t drink cold water at all, even now in summer when it is really hot. They only drink room temperature or even warm water. They say it makes them expel all toxics from the body.

• Tea is the major daily drink (with no sugar). They drink it even more than water, with meals in restaurants (instead of soft drinks), in office, anytime anywhere.

• In China eating dessert after food, or even going out for dessert, is not common.

• Most interesting so far, the elderly Chinese practice TaiChi exercises in public so often and anywhere and sometimes in huge amounts (like 50 people all together moving consistently in the middle of a street). They really care about their health and fitness.

• Obesity is rare in China.

• When they help, the Chinese do not expect “sorry to bother you” or such. It actually bothers them if they hear it because helping others is a basic valuable moral for the Chinese. Saying thank you or “XieXie” would be the best.

• When they offer help or anything, they like it to be accepted. This is because they do not enforce themselves when offering.

Chinese practicing TaiChi in public. This is so common everywhere and sometimes in large numbers and with music