An ancient Chinese saying says, "If an old dog barks, he gives counsel." The Chinese believe that old men, who have walked more roads, read more books, enjoyed more happiness, and endured more suffering, are experienced and knowledgeable. Thus, what they say is mostly wise counsel, and young people should listen to them. The nuggets of wisdom uttered by old men of the various ancient schools of thought play the same role, which have been compiled into the book series Wise Men Talking, published by Sinolingua Press.

The Spring and Autumn (770-476 B.C.) and Warring States (475-221 B.C.) periods of Chinese history were a golden age for ancient Chinese thought. This was an era when "one hundred schools of thought contended and a hundred flowers blossomed."

In those periods, various schools of thought, together with many sages, emerged and postulated their philosophies, including the Confucian school preaching benevolence, the Taoist school preaching to live harmoniously with nature, Mohists emphasizing universal love and no evasion, and Legalists emphasizing rule of law. The splendid classic works they left behind as well as their doctrines not only have a far-reaching impact on the formation of Chinese moral, value system and traditional culture, but also hold great appeal to foreign readers today.

The Wise Men Talking series includes the following 10 titles, Confucius Says, Mencius Says, Sun Zi Says, Zhuang Zi Says, Lao Zi Says, Mo Zi Says, Yan Zi Says, Xun Zi Says, Guan Zi Says, and Han Fei Zi Says. Each book contains 100 classic quotes of a representative from a school of thought. Chinese explanatory notes, English translations, and a painting have been added to the texts for the benefit of both Chinese and foreign readers who are interested in traditional Chinese culture.

These classical works contain many wise sayings and profound insights into philosophical theories that are still worthy of study today. "It is a truly great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force can suffocate," which is the most strict requirement for Chinese scholars on themselves; "Do not do to others what you would not like to be done to you," which reflects a care and understanding for others; "Achievement is founded on diligence and wasted upon recklessness," which conveys the attitude toward work and study.

The translations in the books accurately and precisely convey the essence of ancient Chinese philosophy. Illustrations for each nugget of wisdom create a more interesting story, with clear and vivid images of the characters and plot making the serious philosophical books more lively.

As the pace of work and life speeds up, people have little time to read classic works today. However, this book series provides a very practical guide in terms of life, work, and leadership. It, therefore, will be of positive practical significance in demonstrating the essence of traditional Chinese culture. The wise words will also build a bridge of communication over language barriers.