Vocabulary

being of a gentle disposition; being of a mild character

sense of the trend of the times; sensitivity to the changing times

sense of the times; sensitivity to the times

being of an upright character; being of a noble nature

the time has come (for, to, when ...); the time being ripe (for)

preparatory operations; measure taken in advance; doing the groundwork

one's thought and beliefs

slavish submission to power; sycophancy; flunkeyism; toadyism

a glib tongue (with fair words); fluent talk designed to deceive; talk something away

the friendly atmosphere of the traditional commercial and working-class neighborhoods

the warm feelings of people of the traditional commercial and working-class neighborhoods

poem of four lines, each of seven (Chinese) characters

poem of eight lines, each of seven (Chinese) characters

men seldom live to be seventy; few people live to be seventy

taking care of oneself; looking after oneself

being prudent and cautious; caution oneself against

extremely rude (impertinent, impolite)

jealousy and enmity; being jealous of and at odds with (each other)

practical ethics (morality)

practical ethics (morality)

(practice of) simplicity and frugality; scrimping and saving

the recovery of lost territory; recovering (regaining) lost ground (one's former position); fence-mending

struggling through wind and rain; undergoing hardships

struggling through wind and rain; undergoing hardships

being disappointed and disheartened

guide to office routine; guide to the performance of official duties

(the two persons' sides) being evenly matched in ability

extremely rude (impertinent, impolite)

pragmatism; functionalism; practicality; being intended for practical purposes

according to (depending on) one's ability; if one is good (competent, talented) enough

the precedence of merit; performance orientation; ability-based (promotion, pay scale, etc.); merit-based

speculators' (speculative) market

poetic justice; retributive justice

poetic license

flash of lightning; flash of a sword; brandishing a sword

self-centeredness; selfishness; egotism; egocentricity

sense of (one's) mission; awareness of one's duty (calling)

narrowing of visual field; narrow-mindedness; lack of vision

freedom from one's desires (entry into Nirvana) is true bliss

social ease (facility, skills); being a good mixer