Quotes from Importance of Living by Dr. Lin Yutang

I am sure that Dr. Lin Yutang will mind that I quoted him, but since he is long dead, I will quote some of his wise words from his cool book.

The plum flower makes a man feel high-minded, the orchid makes a man feel secluded, the chrysanthemum makes a man simple-hearted, the lotus makes a man contented, the spring haitang makes a man passionate, the peony makes a man chivalrous, the bamboo makes a man graceful, the pine tree makes a man feel like a recluse, the wutung makes a man clean-hearted, and the willow makes a man sentimental.

If a beauty should have the face of a flower, the voice of a bird, the soul of the moon, the expression of a willow, the charm of an autumn lake, bones of jade and skin of snow, and a heart of poetry, I should be perfectly satisfied.

Talented men who are at the same time handsome, and beautiful ladies who at the same time can write, can never live a long life. This is not only because the gods are jealous of them, but because this type of person is not only the treasure of one generation, but the treasure of all ages, so that the Creator doesn't want to leave them in this world too long, for fear of sacrilege.