Living in lies – Lance Armstrong and his quotes about doping and cheating, Chinese idiom story, proverb 水能载舟,亦能覆舟 shui neng zai zhou , yi neng fu zhou

Lance Armstrong, the founder of Livestrong (a charity that supports cancer survivors), was found guilty of doping (using performance-enhancing drugs). Let learn some Chinese lesson from him.
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兰斯·阿姆斯特朗 (1971年9月18日- ),美国职业公路自行车运动员,1992年开始职业自行车生涯,他因从睾丸癌中康复过来后连续7次(1999年-2005年)获得环法自行车赛冠军而成为环法历史上的传奇人物。2012年8月23日,美国反兴奋剂机构(USADA)宣布剥夺阿姆斯特朗七个环法自行车赛头衔,并且终身禁赛。2012年10月22日,国际自行车联盟(UCI)宣布支持美国反兴奋剂机构(USADA)的决定,剥夺其七届环法赛事冠军头衔,并终身禁赛。
Lánsī – āmǔsītèlǎng (Yī jiǔ qī yī nián jiǔ yuè shí bā rì – ) , měiguó zhíyè gōnglù zìxíngchē yùndòng yuán , yī jiǔ jiǔ èr nián kāishǐ zhíyè zìxíngchē shēngyá , tā yīn cóng gāowán ái zhōng kāngxià guòlai hòu liánxù qī cì ( yī jiǔ jiǔ jiǔ nián – èr líng líng wǔ nián ) huòdé huán fǎ zìxíngchē sài guànjūn ér chéngwéi huán fǎ lìshǐ shàng chuánqí rénwù . èr líng yī èr nián bā yuè èr shí sān rì , měiguó fǎn xīngfènjì jīgòu ( USADA) xuānbù bōduó āmǔsītèlǎng qī ge huán fǎ zìxíngchē sài tóuxián , bìngqiě zhōngshēn jīnsài. èr líng yī èr nián shí yuè èr shí èr rì , guójì zìxíngchē liánméng ( UCI) xuānbù zhīchí měiguó fǎn xīngfènjì jīgòu ( USADA) de juédìng , bōduó qí qī jiè huán fǎ sàishì guànjūn tóuxián , bìng zhōngshēn jīnsài.

Lance Armstrong (September 18, 1971) was an American professional road racing cyclist. In 1992, he started his professional cycling career. After Armstrong recovered from testicular cancer, he won the Tour de France for seven consecutive times between 1999 and 2005 and became a legend in the history of the Tour de France.
In August 23, 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) stripped stripped Amstrong’s seven Tour de France titles and declared a lifetime ban on him. In October 22, 2012, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced its support USADA’s decision and stripped his seven Tour de France titles and gave him a lifetime ban.

Just like many good things in the world, sports can give people great achievements if everything went well; however, due to humans’ physical or mental weakness, sometimes, we saw hellish destruction happened due to sports too. There is a Chinese idiom which carries the meaning about that everything philosophically has both positive and negative sides —

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载舟覆舟 zài zhōu fù zhōu or the more detailed version
水能载舟,亦能覆舟 shuǐ néng zài zhōu , yì néng fù zhōu .

“水能载舟,亦能覆舟” 原是魏征纳谏太宗的话,唐太宗李世民常用告诫人,久之成了李世民的名言。这句话的含义很直白,就是把一个政权看作“舟”,而百姓是“水”。“水能载舟,亦能覆舟”的意思,大致等同于“得民心者得天下,失民心者失天下”。
” shuǐ néng zài zhōu , yì néng fù zhōu ” yuán shì Wèi Zhēng nàjiàn tài zōng de huà , Táng tàizōng Lǐ Shìmín cháng yòng gàojiè rén , jiǔ zhī chéng le Lǐ Shìmín de míng yán . zhè jù huà de hányì hěn zhí bái , jiùshì bǎ yī ge zhèngquán kànzuò ” zhōu ” , ér bǎixìng shì ” shuǐ ” . ” shuǐ néng zài zhōu , yì néng fù zhōu ” de yìsi , dàzhì děngtóng yú ” děi mínxīn zhě dé tiānxià , shī mínxīn zhě shī tiānxià ” .

“Water can float a boat, but it can also sink a boat.” It originally is Wei Cheng’s words of remonstration to Emperor Taizong. Emperor Taizong of Tang ((599-649), reigned 626-649), Li Shimin, often used it to admonish people, thus, as times went by, it became Li Shimin’s famous saying. The implied meaning of this sentence is very direct and clear — it sees a regime as a boat and people as water. The meaning of “Water can float a boat, but it can also sink a boat” approximately equal to “The one who won over the hearts of people will get the world, and the one who lost the hearts of people will lose the world.”

Thus, this proverb / idiom — The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up– also carries these meanings:

If something is used correctly, it will be of benefit. If used incorrectly, it will do harm.
The same knife cut bread and finger.
Everything philosophically divides two: the positive and the negative.

Lance Armstrong’s quotes / memorable statements from his interview with Oprah Winfrey:

1. I’m not the most believable guy in the world right now.
2. I know the truth. The truth isn’t what was out there. The truth isn’t what I said, and now it’s gone — this story was so perfect for so long.
3. I viewed this situation as one big lie that I repeated a lot of times.
4. I thought, surely I’m running low [on testosterone] but there’s no true justification.
5. My ruthless desire to win at all costs served me well on the bike but the level it went to, for whatever reason, is a flaw. That desire, that attitude, that arrogance.
6. Yes, I was a bully. I was a bully in the sense that I tried to control the narrative and if I didn’t like what someone said I turned on them.
7. This is not a good time but it isn’t the worst part of my life. You can’t compare this to an advanced diagnosis. That sets the bar. It is close but I’m an optimist and I like to look forward. This has caused me to look back and I don’t like that.
8. The Foundation is like my sixth child and to make that decision and to step aside was big. It was the best thing for the organization but it hurt like hell. That was the lowest.
9. If you’re asking me if I want to compete again, the answer is hell yes, I’m a competitor.
10.The biggest hope and intention was the wellbeing of my children. The older kids need to not be living with this issue in my life.
11. I deserve to be punished. Not sure I deserve a death penalty.
12. I’m deeply sorry for what I did. I can say that thousands of times. It may never be enough to come back.

In life, lies not only bring pains to the people who were lied to, but also the liar himself or herself and even the liar’s families. Sometimes, some pains or regrets will come and go and got healed by time; however, some deeper ones may stay forever. Hope you will never have forever pains or incurable wounds in all your life. Live the best you can and be strong!

Lance Armstrong on Telling His Son the Truth

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2013 top Mandarin song 红尘客栈 Hong Chen Ke Zhan Worldly Tavern Jay Chou 周杰伦 Zhou Jielun: lyrics, pinyin, English translation, quotes about tavern

红尘客栈
Hong Chen Ke Zhan
Worldly Tavern
Jay Chou
周杰倫/ 周杰伦
Zhou Jielun

天涯的尽头是风沙
tian1 ya2 de5 jin4 tou5 shi4 feng1 sha1
The edge of the remotest corner of the earth is wind and sand.

红尘的故事叫牵挂
hong2 chen2 de5 gu4 shi4 jiao4 qian1 gua4
The story of the world of mortals is called worry.

封刀隐没在寻常人家 东篱下
feng1 dao1 yin3 mo4 zai4 xun2 chang2 ren2 jia1 dong1 li2 xia4
Hung up the sword and gradually vanished into ordinary people’s (houses), under eastern fence.

闲云野鹤古刹
xian2 yun2 ye3 he4 gu3 sha4
Leisurely clouds, wild cranes and an old Buddhist temple.

快马在江湖里厮杀
kuai4 ma3 zai4 jiang1 hu2 li3 si1 sha1
Galloping horses fought at close quarters in rivers and lakes.

无非是名跟利放不下
wu2 fei1 shi4 ming2 gen1 li4 fang4 bu2 xia4
No more than being unable to let go of fame and wealth.

心中有江山的人岂能快意潇洒
xin1 zhong1 you3 jiang1 shan1 de5 ren2 qi3 neng2 kuai4 yi4 xiao1 sa3
For the person who has rivers and mountains in his heart, could he be able to be pleased, elegant and unconventional?

我只求与你共华发
wo3 zhi3 qiu2 yu3 ni3 gong4 hua2 fa3
I only ask for spending grey hair with you.

剑出鞘恩怨了 谁笑
jian4 chu1 qiao4, en1 yuan4 liao3, shei2 xiao4
Double-edged sword unsheathed; gratitude and grudges resolved. Who was smiling?

我只求今朝拥你 入怀抱
wo3 zhi3 qiu2 jin1 zhao1 yong3 ni3 ru4 huai2 bao4
I only ask for at this moment embracing you, into bosom.

红尘客栈风似刀 骤雨落宿命敲
hong2 chen2 ke4 zhan4 feng1 xi4 dao1, zou4 yu3 luo4 su4 ming4 qiao1
The worldly tavern’s wind is like a knife; rapid rains are falling like the strikes of predestination.

任武林谁领风骚
ren4 wu3 lin2 shei2 ling3 feng1 sao1
No matter who is leading the combative brilliance in martial arts circles.

我却只为你折腰
wo3 que4 zhi3 wei4 ni3 zhe2 yao1
I, however, only bow to you.

过荒村野桥寻世外古道
guo4 huang1 chun1 ye3 qiao2 xun2 shi4 wai4 gu3 dao4
Passed the wild bridge of the ruined village to seek the ancient road out of this world.

远离人间尘嚣
yuan3 li2 ren2 jian1 chen2 xiao1
Far away from human world’s hustle and bustle,

柳絮飘执子之手逍遥
liu3 xu4 piao1 zhi2 zi3 shi1 shou3 xiao1 yao2
Willow catkins floating, holding your hand, we are free and unfettered.

檐下窗棂斜映枝桠
yan2 xia4 chuang1 ling2 xie2 ying4 zhi1 ya3
underside of the eaves, twigs were reflected on window lattice.

与你席地对座饮茶
yu3 ni3 xi2 di4 dui4 zuo4 yin3 cha2
With you, on the floor, sitting across each other we drank tea.

我以工笔画将你牢牢的记下
wo3 yi3 gong1 bi3 hua4 jiang1 ni3 lao2 lao2 de5 ji4 xia4
I firmly recorded you with elaborate drawing.

提笔不为风雅
ti2 bi3 bu2 wei4 feng1 ya3
I raised my brush not for elegance.

灯下叹红颜近晚霞
deng1 xia4 tan4 hong2 yan2 jin4 wan3 xia2
Under the lamp, I sighed that the red color of your face is like the red clouds in the evening.

我说缘份一如参禅不说话
wo3 shuo1 yuan2 fen4 yi4 ru2 shen1 chan2 bu4 shuo1 hua4
I said that predestined affinity is like practicing Zen meditation, not saying anything.

你泪如梨花洒满了纸上的天下
ni3 lei4 ru2 li2 hua1 sa3 man3 le5 zhi3 shang4 de5 tian1 xia4
Your tears were like pear blossoms sprinkling all over the whole world of the paper.

爱恨如写意山水画
ai4 hen4 ru2 xie3 yi4 shan1 shu3i hua4
Love and hatred are like freely expressed landscape painting.

剑出鞘恩怨了 谁笑
jian4 chu1 qiao4, en1 yuan4 liao3, shei2 xiao4
Double-edged sword unsheathed; gratitude and grudges resolved. Who was smiling?

我只求今朝拥你 入怀抱
wo3 zhi3 qiu2 jin1 zhao1 yong3 ni3 ru4 huai2 bao4
I only ask for at this moment embracing you, into bosom.

红尘客栈风似刀 骤雨落宿命敲
hong2 chen2 ke4 zhan4 feng1 xi4 dao1, zou4 yu3 luo4 su4 ming4 qiao1
The worldly tavern’s wind is like a knife; rapid rains are falling like the strikes of predestination.

任武林谁领风骚
ren4 wu3 lin2 shei2 ling3 feng1 sao1
No matter who is leading the combative brilliance in martial arts circles.

我却只为你折腰
wo3 que4 zhi3 wei4 ni3 zhe2 yao1
I, however, only bow to you.

过荒村野桥寻世外古道
guo4 huang1 chun1 ye3 qiao2 xun2 shi4 wai4 gu3 dao4
Passed the wild bridge of the ruined village to seek the ancient road out of this world.

远离人间尘嚣
yuan3 li2 ren2 jian1 chen2 xiao1
Far away from human world’s hustle and bustle,

柳絮飘执子之手逍遥
liu3 xu4 piao1 zhi2 zi3 shi1 shou3 xiao1 yao2
Willow catkins floating, holding your hand, we are free and unfettered.

任武林谁领风骚
ren4 wu3 lin2 shei2 ling3 feng1 sao1
No matter who is leading the combative brilliance in martial arts circles.

我却只为你折腰
wo3 que4 zhi3 wei4 ni3 zhe2 yao1
I, however, only bow to you.

你回眸多娇我泪中带笑
ni3 hui2 mou2 duo1 jiao1, wo3 lei4 zhong1 dai4 xiao4
You glanced back with such lovable delicacy; smiles swelled in my tears.

酒招旗风中萧萧 剑出鞘恩怨了
jiu3 zhao1 qi2 feng1 zhong1 xiao1 xiao1, jian4 chu1 qiao4 en1 yuan4 liao3
The banner of tavern flapped in the wind. Double-edged sword unsheathed; gratitude and grudges resolved.

Translated by Shu

Quotes about tavern:

“People go to church for the same reasons they go to a tavern: to stupefy themselves, to forget their misery, to imagine themselves, for a few minutes anyway, free and happy”
Mikhail Bakunin quotes

“There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern.”
Samuel Johnson quotes

“Souls of poets dead and gone, / What Elysium have ye known, / Happy field or mossy cavern, / Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern? / Have ye tippled drink more fine / Than mine host’s Canary wine?”
John Keats quotes

“Dreaming when Dawn’s Left Hand was in the sky I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry: ‘Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup Before Life’s Liquor in its Cup be dry”
Edward Fitzgerald quotes

“A tavern is a place where madness is sold by the bottle.”
Jonathan Swift quotes

These great quotes come from: http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/tavern/

The following is another Jay Chou’s song with similar poetic style and melody. Actually I would say it is the best among all his songs.
青花瓷 Qing hua ci Blue and white porcelain

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For lyrics, translation, see http://www.chinesetolearn.com/?p=2358

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