One is not struck by the truth until prompted quite accidentally by some external event.

"The great advantage of being a writer is that you can spy on people. You're there, listening to every word, but part of you is observing. Everything is useful to a writer, every scrap, even the longest and most boring of luncheon parties."

Fate and temperament are two names for the same concept.

译文：认识是实践的开始，实践是认识的完成。圣人之学只有一个功夫，知和行不能分成两件事。