觀書有感二首（其一）
南宋 朱熹（1130～1200）

半畝方塘一鑑開，天光雲影共徘徊；
問渠那得清如許，為有源頭活水來。

──《朱文公全集》

Thoughts on Reading
Zhu Xi (1130 - 1200, Southern Song Dynasty)
English translation: John Balcom

A half acre square pond, like a mirror;
Light from the heavens, and the shadows of the clouds,
together come and go.
How can a stream be as clear as this?
Because its original source comes from rushing water.

── from Zhu Wengong Quanji (Complete Works of Zhu Wengong)