Ok, here are some gems of wisdom that I have come across in life. No one told me these. I read them.
A true master has no need to prove himself.
You can twist perception, but reality won't budge.
The only thing constant in the world is change.
Nothing is permanent, everything is temporary (even the world itself)
Our lives are like snowflakes. Beautiful and delicate and only here for a brief moment of time.
A general once found himself in a hopeless situation, surrounded by his enemy. His spirit was greatly disturbed becasue he did not know what course of action he should take, so he asked a wise man (a zen master) what he should do. The master replied:
"Cut off your dualism, and let the one sword blade stand serenely by itself against the sky."
(In other words, stop worrying and instead focus all of your mind on your mission and your duty)