Home›Explore›Works & collections›Guwen Guanzhi

Classical prose anthology · source-linked collection

Guwen Guanzhi 《古文观止》

The source labels on this page identify the individual prose work within Guwen Guanzhi, allowing modern readers to move from a famous line back to its essay.

7 verified lines2 linked authors8 connected themes

Verified selections

Read selected lines without losing the source.

7 curated lines
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

老当益壮，宁移白首之心；穷且益坚，不坠青云之志。

Lǎo dāng yì zhuàng, nǐng yí bái shǒu zhī xīn; qióng qiě yì jiān, bù zhuì qīng yún zhī zhì.

Close English reading

In old age one should grow still stronger—how could a white-haired heart be changed? In hardship one should grow still firmer and never let high aspiration fall.

Plain meaningNeither age nor hardship should make you abandon a worthy ambition.

Source
Wang Bo· Tang dynasty · Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng
Guwen Guanzhi: Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng
Why it fitsThe paired clauses join aging and adversity as two pressures that can strengthen rather than erase resolve.
Original context and translation note
老当益壮，宁移白首之心；穷且益坚，不坠青云之志。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

弟子不必不如师，师不必贤于弟子。

Dì zǐ bù bì bù rú shī, shī bù bì xián yú dì zǐ.

Close English reading

A student need not be inferior to the teacher, nor must a teacher be superior to the student.

Plain meaningStudents can surpass teachers, and expertise can differ by subject.

Source
Han Yu· Tang dynasty · On Teachers
Guwen Guanzhi: On Teachers
Why it fitsThe following sentence explains that people encounter the Way at different times and specialize in different fields.
Original context and translation note
是故弟子不必不如师，师不必贤于弟子，闻道有先后，术业有专攻，如是而已。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

人非生而知之者，孰能无惑？

Rén fēi shēng ér zhī zhī zhě, shú néng wú huò?

Close English reading

People are not born knowing; who can be without questions?

Plain meaningNot knowing is normal—ask and learn.

Source
Han Yu· Tang dynasty · On Teachers
Guwen Guanzhi: On Teachers
Why it fitsThe question removes shame from uncertainty and makes seeking instruction reasonable.
Original context and translation note
人非生而知之者，孰能无惑？

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

寄蜉蝣于天地，渺沧海之一粟。

Jì fú yóu yú tiān dì, miǎo cāng hǎi zhī yī sù.

Close English reading

We lodge like mayflies between heaven and earth, tiny as a single grain in the vast sea.

Plain meaningHuman life is brief and small within the immensity of the universe.

Source
Su Shi· Northern Song dynasty · Former Rhapsody on the Red Cliffs
Guwen Guanzhi: Former Rhapsody on the Red Cliffs
Why it fitsThe mayfly and grain of millet place an individual life against cosmic scale.
Original context and translation note
寄蜉蝣于天地，渺沧海之一粟。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐。

Xiān tiān xià zhī yōu ér yōu, hòu tiān xià zhī lè ér lè.

Close English reading

Be concerned before all under heaven are concerned, and enjoy happiness only after all under heaven enjoy it.

Plain meaningLeadership means carrying responsibility before taking reward.

Source
Fan Zhongyan· Northern Song dynasty · Memorial to Yueyang Tower
Guwen Guanzhi: Memorial to Yueyang Tower
Why it fitsIt defines public responsibility through sequence: concern first, enjoyment last.
Original context and translation note
先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

业精于勤，荒于嬉；行成于思，毁于随。

Yè jīng yú qín, huāng yú xī; xíng chéng yú sī, huǐ yú suí.

Close English reading

Work becomes refined through diligence and falls into neglect through play; conduct succeeds through thought and is ruined by careless following.

Plain meaningDiligence needs reflection; effort without thought is not enough.

Source
Han Yu· Tang dynasty · An Explanation of Advancing in Learning
Guwen Guanzhi: An Explanation of Advancing in Learning
Why it fitsIt balances hard work with independent thought rather than praising effort alone.
Original context and translation note
业精于勤，荒于嬉；行成于思，毁于随。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

世有伯乐，然后有千里马。

Shì yǒu Bó Lè, rán hòu yǒu qiān lǐ mǎ.

Close English reading

Only when there is a Bo Le can there be a thousand-li horse.

Plain meaningTalent needs someone able to recognize and support it.

Source
Han Yu· Tang dynasty · On Horses
Guwen Guanzhi: On Horses
Why it fitsThe legendary judge of horses becomes a metaphor for leaders who can identify rare ability.
Original context and translation note
世有伯乐，然后有千里马。千里马常有，而伯乐不常有。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page

Authors in this collection

Open substantial author collections where the corpus contains enough verified entries.

Han Yu4Su Shi1

Explore related themes

See how lines from this source connect to modern feelings, questions, and situations.

LearningPerspectiveWork & leadershipAmbition & successCouragePerseveranceAging & resilienceFairness & integrity

Selected prose on teachers, talent, responsibility, cosmic perspective, and disciplined learning. This page is a curated bilingual selection, not a claim to translate the complete source.

All works and collections →