Truth becomes fiction when the fiction’s true;
Real becomes not-real when the unreal’s real.
—Cao Xueqin
One day, when spring has gone and youth has fled,
The Maiden and the flowers will both be dead.
—Cao Xueqin
Pages full of idle words
Penned with hot and bitter tears:
All men call the author fool;
None his secret message hears.
—Cao Xueqin
I must claim the quoter’s privilege of giving only as much of the text as will suit my purpose, said Tan-Chun. If I told you how it went on, I should end up by contradicting myself!
—Cao Xueqin
Topics: Quotations
All, insubstantial, doomed to pass,
As moonlight mirrored in the water
Or flowers reflected in a glass.
—Cao Xueqin
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Lu Xun Chinese Writer
Lin Yutang Chinese Author, Philologist
Mao Zedong Chinese Statesman
Jianzhi Sengcan Chinese-Buddhist Monk
Master Sheng-Yen Chinese Buddhist Monk
Laozi Chinese Philosopher
Zhuang Zhou Chinese Taoist Philosopher
Sun Tzu Chinese Military Leader
Li Bai Chinese Taoist Poet
Confucius Chinese Philosopher