After experiencing countless setbacks, here are 9 truths about society and human nature that you only understand through experience: 1. When you're chatting with others, remember they might take a screenshot; when speaking in front of someone, consider they might be recording; when on a call, think they might have speakerphone on and someone else nearby. Adults should always be prepared to face the consequences of their words and actions—doing so will greatly reduce your troubles. 2. Never try to prove yourself, because effort is never about standing out from the crowd, but about becoming a crane and leaving the flock. There are no benefactors at the bottom, and socializing is futile. Focus on your goals and personal growth. Make yourself so good that anyone who dares to approach must weigh whether they can handle you. This is not arrogance but clarity. Your task is to walk through this swamp, not to fight every crocodile. Understand? Remember, if you lack talent, just repeat. 3. Learn to boldly confront anyone who disrespects you. Silence won't earn understanding; it only invites more malice. The more you accommodate, the more others will take your politeness for granted. The more you tolerate, the more they will see your patience as weakness. No one respects you for being easygoing; instead, they will take your lack of boundaries as softness and bully you at will. Those who habitually ignore your feelings are essentially testing your limits of patience. The less temper you have, the easier you are to talk to, and the less others will take you seriously. Even one strong rebuttal can make them realize you're not a pushover. Clearly defining your bottom line can repel those who drain your energy. 4. Never need to explain yourself to anyone. The fastest way to ruin someone is to care too much about others' opinions. Your value isn't in others' words but in your own hands. Don't give others the right to judge you lightly. Most people you meet in life are unimportant—they don't understand your situation nor care about your outcome. Their evaluations are fleeting. Those who understand you need no words; those who don't will have no defense. Remember, learn to be at peace in your own world and go with the flow in others'. 5. Whoever bears the consequences has the right to make decisions. Your relatives urging you to marry and have children won't share your daily struggles. Friends advising you to quit your job and start a business won't bear the losses. Anyone who meddles is probably not acting in your best interest—they're likely just looking out for themselves. They stand on the safe shore while you swim in the water. As an adult, you must hold the final decision-making power. Listen to others' opinions and suggestions as references, but remember, your future, even your lifelong happiness, depends on you alone. Others are just spectators. 6. After studying history for so many years, I’ve discovered a cruel truth: when you're insignificant, don’t bother explaining principles. When Su Qin was down and returned home, his sister-in-law looked down on him. Later, when he became a prime minister of six states, she knelt on the ground, afraid to lift her head. This is the adult world. Your temper and principles must match your strength. When you lack strength, your so-called self-respect is worthless. First, elevate your position; only then will your words carry weight. 7. Be cautious of those who love to interfere in your family affairs. They claim to do it for your good, but in reality, it’s for their own benefit. Anyone who confidently meddles in others’ family matters has hidden motives. Set clear boundaries and resolutely refuse outside interference in your family. 8. Every family has its own difficulties. Most problems are fundamentally economic. Parents complain about children; children resent parents; siblings are disorganized. All the trivial conflicts drain energy. Ultimately, they are caused by poverty. Without solving financial issues, the shadows of your original family will always linger. No matter how good your temper, how broad your outlook, or how strong your will, without a stable income, family chaos will never disappear. So, I advise couples still fighting over trivialities: stop wasting time arguing about right and wrong. Sit down and seriously discuss how to make money together. 9. When it comes to making money, focus on a business one person can run alone. In today’s startup scene, avoid partnerships if possible. Human resources are a burden. Keep it small and refined; don’t seek to be big. The trend is toward super-individuals. Operate with a lightweight model: reuse what works, rent instead of buy, buy second-hand instead of new, collaborate instead of going solo, and avoid taking unnecessary risks. Remember, in this day and age, minimizing losses is equivalent to earning.