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Night in Shanghai


The forgotten story of black musicians in the Chinese jazz age, and a startling ...
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What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

Created: 01/11/15

Replies: 11

Posted Jan. 11, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

Before the novel begins, Mones offers this Chinese adage: "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time." This saying comes from an ancient text that imparted life lessons to children. What lesson do you take from it? What do you think it meant to Thomas, Song, and Lin?


Posted Jan. 12, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ssh

Join Date: 02/04/14

Posts: 99

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

I loved this adage. It makes me think of people I have lost. An inch of time with them again would certainly be worth an inch of gold - or all my valuables. Unfortunately no gold or valuables can buy that time with them again. It reminds me to value the people in my life right now. I think perhaps that Thomas, Song and Lin would think of it in a similar way. No gold can bring them more moments with the ones they love so dearly. Part of the beauty of this story was that the characters did seem to savor the time with those important to them.


Posted Jan. 13, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lindah

Join Date: 04/17/14

Posts: 90

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

Savor the moments. Life is fleeting and precious. People you hold dear are priceless.


Posted Jan. 13, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Portiaa

Join Date: 04/04/12

Posts: 20

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

All the gold in the world cannot pay for the things we have lost, our dear ones, our youth or the opportunities we passed by so carelessly...


Posted Jan. 13, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Retired Reader, NE

Join Date: 09/16/11

Posts: 165

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

Time is the great equalizer. We all have the same 24 hours in the day. Deciding what to do with your time is the most valuable decision you make. Time is not a renewable resource and cannot be passed on to the next generation. As an avid reader, people often say to me, "I wish I had as much time to read as you do." Duh! Reading is how I choose to spend my time.


Posted Jan. 15, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
harriettek

Join Date: 10/19/10

Posts: 38

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

So true......One might be able to earn back money, but we can never retrieve time. Once a moment is gone, that's it. The older I get, the more I cherish the moment..


Posted Jan. 15, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jeanettel

Join Date: 01/05/12

Posts: 61

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

Enjoy every second of your life, have no regrets, live every day as if it was your last; all of these are saying that are so true, all the gold in the world cannot change the past.


Posted Jan. 16, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beverlyj

Join Date: 12/22/11

Posts: 154

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

Enjoy those around you because all the money in the world cannot replace those who are no longer with you.


Posted Jan. 17, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mal

Join Date: 09/09/13

Posts: 164

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

Time is precious, cannot be purchased. Once time is gone, it us gone, lost forever. Spend time wisely.


Posted Jan. 19, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
suzie

Join Date: 01/19/15

Posts: 4

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

For me that translates to: We spend our health chasing wealth and then we spend our wealth chasing our health.


Posted Jan. 19, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

Nicely put Suzie!


Posted Jan. 23, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
alices

Join Date: 06/15/13

Posts: 11

RE: What do you take from the Chinese adage "An inch of time is worth an inch of gold. An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."?

Life is a gift, bestowed on each of us at birth. How we live it, or what we make of depends upon us , as a person. We can not extend or reclaim loss time. Gold is simply form of wealth. It does not buy us love, happiness. or respect. Thus one should carefully live their life to the utmost, to love our familes, friend, and be happy

Aliceq105.

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