岳陽樓記
北宋‧范仲淹（989~1052）

不以物喜，不以己悲，
居廟堂之高，則憂其民，
處江湖之遠，則憂其君。
是進亦憂，退亦憂，
然則何時而樂耶？
其必曰：
先天下之憂而憂，
後天下之樂而樂乎！

──《岳陽樓記》

Yueyang Pavilion (Excerpt)
Fan Zhongyan (989 - 1052, Northern Song Dynasty)

Do not take pleasure in material goods, Do not express pity for oneself.
Occupiers of the palace worry for their people;
Dwellers of remote districts worry for their ruler.
Progress causes worry,
retreat likewise causes worry;
exactly when will a moment of happiness come?
It is when one is able to
Regard as one’s top concern the state’s affairs,
And place as one’s last goal one’s own enjoyments.

── from Yueyang Lou Ji (Yueyang Pavilion)