丹可磨,而不可夺其色;兰可燔,而不可灭其馨;玉可碎,而不可改其白;金可销,而不可易其刚。· Cinnabar can be ground into dust,yet its colour remains the same; orchids can be put into fire,yet its fragrance linger;jade can be broken into pieces,yet it is still pure white;metals can be melted,yet they remain hard.
(Liu Zhou [of Northern Qi in the Northern Dynasties]: The Works of Liuzi)