"The lake overwhelms ...."

The lake overwhelms the trees: great excess.  The noble one stands alone without fear, and can withdraw from the world without sorrow.

--> Confucius

"To prefer it ...."

To prefer it is better than to only know it,

To delight in it is better than merely prefer it.

Confucius

"Life is really simple ...."

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

Confucius

"The world is not what we try to explore ...."

The world is not what we try to explore.  The world should be what we learn how to merge and exchange with it, so that we can benefit each other and enhance our power and life.

Confucius