Two mirrors

 　　The philosopher Kant said that two things fill him with awe and wonder: the starry heavens above him and the moral law within him. I think these two things are like two mirrors, which we need to constantly polish to prevent them from becoming dusty.

　　Using the sky as a mirror, we can see our own insignificance, thus avoiding arrogance and making a fool of ourselves; using the moral law within us as a mirror, we can constantly examine ourselves and consciously regulate our words and actions.

　　There are always some people in this world who hold a bright mirror but only reflect on others. They only see the gloom in the sky, not the rainbow after the rain; they only see the sunspots, not the warmth of the sun. They also understand the moral law, but they only use it to demand things of others, not to restrain themselves. Therefore, they find fault with everyone and everything; they are cynical, lamenting their unfulfilled potential and bad timing. Such people only need to turn the mirror around, first observing themselves and their own hearts, then observing the ways of the world and human relationships; they will surely become more magnanimous through tolerance.

　　In fact, what else can serve as a mirror besides the sky and the moral law!

　　Books are mirrors. Reading a good book is like receiving a spiritual bath, a journey for the soul. There may be the pain of having scars revealed, but there's also the exhilaration of having one's desires awakened. Good works are multifaceted; different people see different reflections within them.

　　The eyes are mirrors. The eyes of an upright person are clear; the eyes of a narrow-minded and selfish person are cunning and wary; the eyes of a despicable person are evil and terrifying. I am fortunate to live among children; their eyes are clear and bright, reflecting only hope and aspiration.

　　Time is also a mirror. For every young person reading in the morning sun, there is an elderly person trudging through the twilight. Time relentlessly flows in the mirror, but a fulfilling life is found through diligence. As long as we persevere, while time adds gray hairs, it also bestows upon us a mature charm.

　　Life itself is a mirror. If you cry at it, it cries back; if you laugh at it, it laughs back. So why not begin each day with a smile and end with a smile? Then, every day of ours will be something to look forward to, and every dream will be sweet and wonderful.