To see a thousand miles further, you must climb one more floor. — Wang Zhihuan, "Climbing Stork Tower"
Therefore, unless you climb a high mountain, you do not know the height of the sky; unless you stand by a deep stream, you do not know the thickness of the earth. — Xunzi, "Encouraging Learning"
Why is the pond water so clear? Because fresh water flows in from the source. — Zhu Xi, "Reflections on Reading"
By the sunken boat, a thousand sails pass by; before the sickly trees, ten thousand trees spring forth in spring. — Liu Yuxi, "Reply to Le Tian's Gift of a Poem upon Meeting in Yangzhou"
The sun rises over the sea at the end of night; spring arrives in the river during the old year. — Wang Wan, "Arriving at Beigu Mountain"
Beyond the bamboo, a few peach blossoms bloom; the duck knows first that the spring river water is warm. — Su Shi, "Late Spring View on Hui Chong's Painting"
I do not fear the floating clouds blocking my view, for I am standing at the highest level. — Wang Anshi, "Climbing Feilai Peak"
I casually recognize the face of the east wind; all the purple and red are spring. — Zhu Xi, "Spring Day"
A broken halberd sank in the sand, the iron not yet melted; I polish and wash it to recognize the former dynasty. If the east wind had not favored Zhou Lang, the bronze sparrow spring would have deeply locked the two Qiao. — Du Mu, "Red Cliff"
Mountains and waters overlap, I suspect there is no road; willows are dark and flowers bright, here is another village. — Lu You, "Wandering in Shansi Village"
Humans have sorrows, joys, separations, and reunions; the moon has its waning, brightening, emptiness, and fullness. — Su Shi, "Water Melody"
It emerges from the mud yet remains unstained; it is washed by clear ripples yet does not appear coquettish. — Zhou Dunyi, "On Loving the Lotus"
Seen from the side, it looks like a range; seen from the front, it looks like a peak. From far, near, high, low, it is all different. — Su Shi, "Inscribed on the Wall of West Forest Monastery"
I must ascend the highest peak to see all other mountains as small. — Du Fu, "Gazing at Mount Tai"
Plum and snow contend for spring, neither willing to yield; the poets pause their pens, struggling to judge. Plum must concede three parts of whiteness to snow; snow, however, concedes a stretch of fragrance to plum. — Lu Meipo, "Snow Plum"