Wed, Jun 9, 2027

初，突厥頡利既亡，北方空虛，薛延陀真珠可汗帥其部落建庭於都尉犍山北、獨邏水南，勝兵二十萬，立其二子拔酌、頡利苾主南、北部。上以其強盛，恐後難制，癸亥，拜其二子皆為小可汗，各賜鼓纛，外示優崇，實分其勢。

Source： https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E8%B3%87%E6%B2%BB%E9%80%9A%E9%91%91/%E5%8D%B7195
卷195·太宗文武大聖大廣孝皇帝中之上貞觀十二年（戊戌，公元六三八年）·第19则

This is a direct reading: the original and source are kept; commentary will be added later.

子曰：「以約失之者，鮮矣。」

Source： https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E8%AB%96%E8%AA%9E/%E9%87%8C%E4%BB%81%E7%AC%AC%E5%9B%9B
里仁第四·四之二三

This is a direct reading: the original and source are kept; commentary will be added later.

In the opulent countries of Europe, great capitals are at present employed in trade and manufactures. In the ancient state, the little trade that was stirring, and the few homely and coarse manufactures that were carried on, required but very small capitals. These, however, must have yielded very large profits. The rate of interest was nowhere less than ten per cent. and their profits must have been sufficient to afford this great interest. At present, the rate of interest, in the improved parts of Europe, is nowhere higher than six per cent.; and in some of the most improved, it is so low as four, three, and two per cent. Though that part of the revenue of the inhabitants which is derived from the profits of stock, is always much greater in rich than in poor countries, it is because the stock is much greater; in proportion to the stock, the profits are generally much less.

Source： https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3300
Book II, Chapter III, paragraph 826

This is a direct reading: the original and source are kept; commentary will be added later.

江夏王道宗督眾築土山於城東南隅，浸逼其城，城中亦增高其城以拒之。士卒分番交戰，日六、七合，沖車砲石，壞其樓堞，城中隨立木柵以塞其缺。道宗傷足，上親為之針。築山晝夜不息，凡六旬，用功五十萬，山頂去城數丈，下臨城中，道宗使果毅傅伏愛將兵屯山頂以備敵。山頹，壓城，城崩，會伏愛私離所部，高麗數百人從城缺出戰，遂奪據土山，塹而守之。上怒，斬伏愛以徇，命諸將攻之，三日不能克。道宗徒跣詣旗下請罪，上曰：「汝罪當死，但朕以漢武殺王恢，不如秦穆用孟明，且有破蓋牟、遼東之功，故特赦汝耳。」

Source： https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E8%B3%87%E6%B2%BB%E9%80%9A%E9%91%91/%E5%8D%B7198
卷198·太宗文武大聖大廣孝皇帝下之上貞觀十九年（乙巳，公元六四五年）·第21则

This is a direct reading: the original and source are kept; commentary will be added later.

Most of the Berkshire businesses whose results are significantly affected by the economy earned below their potential last year, and that will be true in 2009 as well. Our retailers were hit particularly hard, as were our operations tied to residential construction. In aggregate, however, our manufacturing, service and retail businesses earned substantial sums and most of them – particularly the larger ones – continue to strengthen their competitive positions. Moreover, we are fortunate that Berkshire’s two most important businesses – our insurance and utility groups – produce earnings that are not correlated to those of the general economy. Both businesses delivered outstanding results in 2008 and have excellent prospects.

Source： https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/2008ltr.pdf
2008 Chairman's Letter, excerpt 4

This is a direct reading: the original and source are kept; commentary will be added later.