Vocabulary

to remove the scum (from a broth or liquid); to skim (a liquid)

to get tired of waiting; to grow impatient

to resign; to abandon; to step aside; to back out of; to retire; to get away

depends on

to throw out one's chest; to be puffed up with pride

to become better; to improve

bad news traveling fast; ill news spreading like wildfire

a balanced diet leads to a healthy body; healthy food both prevents and cures sickness

one's word is worth 1,000 pieces of gold; a promise should be kept at all cost

those who meet must part (suggesting the transient nature of this life); we meet only to part

better to be the beak of a rooster than the rump of a bull; better to be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a large organization; better to be a big fish in a little pond than a little fish in a big pond

unparalleled in history

people in the whole world being all brothers; universal brotherhood

a moment of time in a spring evening (is worth a thousand pieces of gold)

a small-minded person being idle (tends to do evil)

in evil, there is odds; there is more evil than good in this world; one good thing tends to cause many bad things to happen

victory goes to the one who makes the first move; being quick to take action leads to victory; the early bird gets the worm

worrying before one's people worry, enjoying oneself only after one's people have enjoyed themselves (a precept to be observed by a ruler)

being bold and courageous, but also careful and meticulous

awareness comes only through practice

a wise person always follows the right course; a wise man never wavers

good advice is harsh to the ears; honest advice is often unpleasant to the ears

heaven's vengeance is slow but sure; heaven's net is wide and coarse, yet nothing slips through

constant dripping wears away the stone; little strokes fell great oaks; limited strength, when persistently applied, can accomplish great feats

(bringing up a child) with greatest care pampering (him, her) with material comforts of a rich family; (being brought up) in a hothouse atmosphere

sharp eyes and ears used for collecting information far and wide; having the acumen and shrewd discernment gained by widely-collected information; being well-versed on a subject; books which broaden our knowledge

beauty and fortune seldom go together; the beautiful die young

so many men, so many ways; to each one's own; it takes all sorts to make a world

everlasting fortune in battle; continued luck in war

all things are in a state of flux; everything is constantly changing

the importance of creating an environment conducive to a child's learning; Mencius' mother, three moves

there is a huge markup in medicines, making it a profitable field; medicines sell for ten times the cost of their ingredients

to go into a huddle

to speak; to say; to vocalize

to do what one is told to; to take someone's advice; to listen to what someone says

dawn breaks; day dawns

to get out of bed; to show a leg

to lose one's senses (over); to be out of one's mind (over); to be completely captivated (by); to be smitten; to be engrossed (in)

another; one more

useless; in vain