The School of Life of the Chinese: Timeless Business Lessons for Success and Leadership
Last updated: February 20, 2026 Read in fullscreen view
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Among the 100 richest people in the world, 45% are Chinese. Of the 10 richest people in Southeast Asia, 8 are Chinese (even though they make up only 5% of the population), including Hong Kong’s richest billionaire, Li Ka-shing.
It is said that Mr. Li had a driver who worked with him for 30 years. When the driver retired, Li Ka-shing offered him 6.5 billion, but the driver refused. The reason was that during his years accompanying Li Ka-shing, he had learned 36 unwritten rules - a form of great “capital” - to build his own wealth, and had saved 65 billion himself.
ON HOW TO CONDUCT YOURSELF
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Praying to the gods is not as good as asking others; asking others is not as good as relying on yourself. Strengthening yourself is more important than any external power.
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You may not be able to judge whether others are good or bad, but you can choose to be a good person.
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Better to remain silent like a mute than to open your mouth and reveal your foolishness.
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The best thing about telling the truth is that you don’t have to remember what you said.
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To shine yourself, you don’t need to blow out someone else’s light.
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Neither be blindly arrogant nor overly self-deprecating.
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You may not be a gentleman, but never be a petty villain.
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Do not make enemies with petty villains - they already have too many enemies.
ON DOING BUSINESS
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If you don’t know how to judge people, you will suffer for a lifetime. If you can’t recognize products, you’ll only be deceived temporarily.
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Only ripe fruit can be picked; only well-considered thoughts should be spoken.
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True leadership is not about how many gentlemen you can lead, but how many petty villains you can control.
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When facing any issue, don’t rush. Slow down your speech, and your thinking will become clearer; problems will be solved better.
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Simple matters don’t require calculation; complex matters don’t require anxiety.
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Don’t talk when you’re heated; don’t make decisions when you’re angry.
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You can’t see reflections in turbulent water; the angrier you are, the harder it is to see the truth.
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To defeat others, you must first defeat yourself.
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If many people are doing something and you are not, perhaps you are the one who is wrong.
ON DEALING WITH PEOPLE
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If you haven’t seen something with your own eyes, don’t spread it around.
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If you don’t understand something clearly, simply say, “I don’t know.”
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If someone doesn’t want to talk, don’t try every way to pry into it.
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Someone extending a hand to you doesn’t necessarily mean they truly want to save you. Learn to save yourself.
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Someone who understands you doesn’t necessarily care about you. They may simply be observant.
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If you do not take trust lightly, others will not betray you.
ON CULTIVATING YOUR MIND
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If you endure, the wind will calm. If you are tolerant, your heart will be at peace.
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Silence is the smartest resistance to shamelessness.
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Anger is self-inflicted harm when facing insult.
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A person whose heart is filled only with their own thoughts will never hear the voice of others.
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If you can endure, endure. If you cannot endure, change. If you cannot change, accept.
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If you want to reach the summit, you must climb with your own feet - don’t let others carry you.
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Life experiences are like a pencil: sharp at first, but the more you use it, the duller it becomes.
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Don’t overthink. The world is vast - you are far from being the biggest fool.
6 FINAL PIECES OF ADVICE
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Don’t trust appearances; look at the essence.
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Don’t fear change; the world is always moving.
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Don’t fear failure; it is tuition for success.
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Never stop learning; knowledge is the only weapon no one can steal.
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Don’t forget your roots; gratitude is the foundation of character.
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And finally, believe in yourself - even when the whole world turns its back on you.
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