China DOS Union

Storms and tempests in heaven are unforeseen; for men, fortune and misfortune can come morning or evening. Though the centipede has a hundred legs, it cannot travel as swiftly as a snake; though the domestic chicken has large wings, it cannot fly as well as a bird. A horse may have the ability to run a thousand li, but without a rider it cannot go there by itself; a man may have ambitions that reach the clouds, but without luck he cannot rise to success. Though his writings covered the age, Confucius was still trapped in the state of Chen; though unmatched in military strategy, Taigong was left fishing by the Wei River. Zhi the bandit lived to an old age, yet he was no good man; Yan Hui died young, though he was truly no evil person. Yao and Shun were supreme sages, yet they gave birth to unworthy sons; Gu Sou was stubborn and foolish, yet he fathered a great sage. Zhang Liang was originally a commoner, and Xiao He was merely a county clerk; Yanzi was less than five chi tall, yet became the prime minister of Qi; Kongming lived recluse in a thatched cottage, yet could become the military adviser of Shu-Han. Han Xin lacked even the strength to truss a chicken, yet was made a great general of the Han; Feng Tang had the ambition to bring peace to the realm, yet grew old with hardly any official rank. Li Guang had the might to shoot a tiger, yet never passed; the King of Chu, though mighty, could not escape cutting his throat at the Wu River, while the King of Han, though weak, came to possess vast rivers and mountains. Some are full of learning, yet with white hair still fail to place; others have scant talent and shallow learning, yet pass the examinations while still young. Some are first rich and then poor; some first poor and then rich. When the flood dragon has not yet met its time, it hides among fish and shrimp; when a gentleman loses his moment, he must fold his hands beneath petty men. When heaven misses its season, the sun and moon give no light; when earth misses its season, grass and trees do not grow; when water misses its season, wind and waves are not at peace; when man misses his season, profit and fortune do not flow.

In former days, I was in Luoyang. By day I sought refuge in monks' quarters, by night I slept in a cold kiln; my cloth garments could not cover my body, thin porridge could not satisfy my hunger. Those above despised me, those below loathed me; all said I was lowly. I said: it is not that I am lowly, it is only the time, the fortune, the fate. When I passed the examinations and entered official rank, my office reached the highest grade, my place was among the Three Excellencies; I held the rod to strike the hundred officials, I had the power to behead the mean and stingy. When I went out, strong men bore the whip; when I came in, fair ladies held the tasselled fan. When I thought of clothing, there were silks and brocades; when I thought of food, there were delicacies of mountain and sea. Those above favored me, those below surrounded me; all admired me and called me noble. I said: it is not that I am noble, it is only the time, the fortune, the fate. Thus in life, wealth and rank are not to be fawned upon, poverty and lowliness are not to be bullied. This is the cycle of heaven and earth, ending only to begin again.

Hehe, a post from two years ago.

Where is it from? Hehe, after reading it, it somehow felt like the old <Thousand Character Classic> to me...
I suggest everyone learn a bit of “grab-ism”: take whatever is useful.