Quotes from Wu Cheng'en

After following it for nearly two miles he came across two she-monsters drawing water from a well. How did he know that they were monsters? Each of them had on her head an extremely unfashionable hair-style held up by bamboo slivers that stood one foot two or three inches high.

All Men Are Brothers)

Each of them also had a white lacquered tablet hanging on his belt; on one was the inscription Shifty-and-Freaky, and on the other, Freaky-and-Shifty.

Nothing in the world is difficult," said the Patriarch, "it is only our own thoughts that make things seem so.

You can walk from the time of your youth till the time you grow old, and after that, till you become youthful again; and even after going through such cycle a thousand times, you may still find it difficult to reach the place you want to go. But when you percieve, by the resoluteness of your will, the Buddha-nature in all things, and when every one of your thoughts goes back to its very source in your memory, that will be the time you arrive at the Spirit Mountain.

How did he know so readily, you ask, that they were female fiends? Because he saw that each of them had a chignon on her head about fifteen inches tall and adorned with tiny bamboo strips. It was a most unfashionable style! Our

Even the vegetable kingdom knows that excellence comes from an environment of excellence (e.g. what the lotus relies on is pure, so impurity cannot stain it; what the cinnamon depends on for its existence is lofty, and thus it will not be weighed down by trivia), how can humans who understand the great relations not search for well-being by following well-being?

Nothing in this world is difficult, but thinking makes it seem so. Where there is true will, there is always a way.

Even amidst fierce flames the golden lotus can be planted - Sylvia Plath's epitaph (from Wu Cheng'en's novel Journey to the West aka. Monkey, translated by Arthur Waley)

A team of horses cannot overtake a word that has left the mouth.

After Supper the Master dismissed all except Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie and Sha the Monk. He took them out with him and said, Look at that wonderful moolight. It makes me long for the time when I can return home.

If you want to have a future, don't do anything with no future in it.

The earth is black in front of the cliff, and no orchids grow. Creepers crawl in the brown mud by the path. Where did the birds of yesterday fly? To what other mountain did the animals go? Leopards and pythons dislike this ruined spot; Cranes and snakes avoid the desolation. My criminal thoughts of those days past Brought on the disaster of today.

Hero is he alone who vies with powers supreme!

What you must do, said Monkey, is lure the monster from its hiding place, but be certain it is a fight you can survive.

If a man has been your teacher for a day, you should treat him as your father for the rest of his life.

With passions stilled and one's nature firm, all destinies are in harmony; When the full moon of contemplation is reached you will be pure.

Wherever you go, said the Patriarch, I'm convinced you'll come to no good. So remember, when you get into trouble, I absolutely forbid you to say that you are my disciple.

When man has a virtuous thought,     Heaven will grant him support.

The adept does not show himself;     He who shows himself's no adept.

Monkey now produced his staff and the two of them did their best to kill each other, like the affectionate in-laws they were.

The hundred flavors of rare dainties     Are no more once you've eaten your fill.     You may accumulate private savings     But not in your stomach private hoardings!

Never pour the Elixir of Life as if it were an ordinary liquid. He who entrusts the secret of the dark forces to unworthy ears is making his jaws do unnecessary work and talks his tongue dry to no purpose.

The wide earth may harbor vicious affairs,     But high Heaven will a good man vindicate.     Footloose they're safe on Tath?gata's way,     Certain to reach Mount Spirit's paradise gate.