What are some idiom stories or proverbs that reflect traditional Chinese culture?

Ouyang Xiu is the Northern Song Dynasty great literary hero, his literary talent, high official position, but is very focused on humility to others to seek advice, each write an article, must first "grass on the paper, powder on the wall, the Xing lying view of the repeated thought and discussion". His work "Drunken Master Pavilion", the use of refined words, beautiful rhetoric, has been recited by the people to this day, this text has benefited from the guidance of an old woodcutter.

When Ouyang Xiu served as governor of Chuzhou, his good friend, the monk Zhixian, built a pavilion for him on Mount Langya, which he named "Drunken Master Pavilion" and wrote the article "Drunken Master Pavilion Record". After the article was written, Ouyang Xiu copied a lot of copies, and ordered people to post it outside, hoping that pedestrians will help him to modify and comment.

People who saw the article appreciated Ouyang Xiu's literary talent. At this time, an old woodcutter who chopped wood said that his article was a bit too wordy. Ouyang Xiu then recited the article again for the old man and humbly asked him to point out his mistakes. Just started to read: "Chuzhou on all sides are also mountains, east of Wulong Mountain, west of Dafeng Mountain, south of the flower mountain, north of the white rice mountain, its southwest of the peaks, forests and ravines, beautiful ...... "The old woodcutter that wordy place is here, said:" I Chopping wood when standing in the South Heavenly Gate, Dafeng Mountain, Wulong Mountain, Baimi Mountain and the Flower Mountain, a turn around all into the eyes, surrounded by mountains!"

Ouyang Xiu, after hearing this, busily said, "That makes sense." He then modified it to read: "All around Chu are also mountains" five words. This is what we see today, "Drunken Master Pavilion" simple and concise beginning.

2 Night refuses gold

Yang Zhen, a native of Hongnong in the Eastern Han Dynasty, was diligent and knowledgeable, and he taught for more than 20 years, never accepting the recruitment of state and county officials. Later, he wanted to enter the civil service, but people thought that Yang Zhen was too old to enter the civil service, but his ambition became more and more firm. When General Deng stabilized Yang Zhen's reputation, he hired him as a staff member. At that time, Yang Zhen was already over 50 years old. Later, he served as the assassin of Jingzhou and the governor of Donglai.

When Yang Zhen was on his way to Donglai County, he passed through Changyi, where the magistrate, Wang Mi, was a great talent whom he had recommended before. At night, Wang Mi brought ten pounds of gold to Yang Zhen. Yang Zhen refused and said, "An old friend understands Wang Jun, but Wang Jun does not understand his friend, why is that?"

Wang Mi replied, "In the middle of the night, no one will know."

Yang Zhen said with a straight face, "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know, how can you say no one knows?"

Wang Mi heard this and was so full of shyness that he had to take the gold and leave.

Later, Yang Zhen was transferred to the post of governor of Zhuo County. He was a fair and honest official, and his children and grandchildren ate and wore simple clothes, and went out all on foot. The friends persuaded him to buy properties for his children and grandchildren, but Yang Zhen refused to agree. He smiled and said, "Let my descendants be known as the descendants of a clean official, and leave this as an inheritance, isn't it also very rich?"

Proverb (Honest):

The tricky and clever and treacherous are not as good as the loyal and honest and stupid.

Craftiness is better than honesty and clumsiness. The old are not coaxed, the young are not concealed.

It is better to be true to one's word than to be false to one's heart.

Covetousness is the source of all evils, but sincerity is the basis of all goodness.

Half a bottle of water is a wobble, a full bottle of water is a whimper.

When one thinks that one is white and flawless, then the flower of life begins to wither.

The bow is broken when it is too full, and the moon is missing when it is too full.