Papa's Path

My sister kept this letter from Papa written to her in the 70s. Papa ended with this Chinese proverb:

一失成千古恨 再回头是百年身

One single slip brings eternal regret,

Looking back, you find that your whole life has passed away.

Nearer to this Chinese proverb would be -

So, often in the course

Of life's few fleeting years

A single pleasure costs

The soul a thousand tears.

- Francis Bourdillon