Likewise, he should take the ordinary irritations of life and develop something beautiful as a result of his struggles that society can treasure. What do you man by take the ordinary irritations of life ?

The capital words make me dizzy.

If you meant that the reader should conclude this, you might write: This story can be understood to mean that one should become like a pearl if one wants to be recognized by society at large. As to what I think of the story itself: I thought that was more what you meant, and I would have written it as coming from the wise man. I thought there were at least three things here: (1) the young man wanted the pearl because it was precious. Likewise, he should harness his own greed and seek things that he has learned from the teachings of society are precious. (2) The pearl is built up over time from the irritations of the ordinary oyster. Likewise, he should take the ordinary irritations of life and develop something beautiful as a result of his struggles that society can treasure. And (3) Size is important, but concentrated value is more important. Both are necessary. So, I might end it this way: "The only reason," he said, "is that you are just like the sand. You seek what society seeks. Pursue the precious qualities of the pearl, and the results will be unmistakable." Zhu hao benjamin

May I suggest the following grammatical corrections? I have made them in CAPITAL LETTERS so you can find them easily. Once upon a time, a frustrated young man was walking aimlessLY on the beach WHEN he met a wise man. The young man EARNESTLY wanted his talents to be discovered by SOCIETY (in aN eaRnest manner -- BUT THIS IS INCORRECT. WAS THE YOUNG MAN EARNEST? OR DID HE WANT SOCIETY TO BE EARNEST?) SO he asked the wise man. The wise man did not spEAk. He bent to take SOME (LIKE WATER, NOT LIKE PENCILS) sand and threw it. Then he asked the young man to fetch it back. The young man LOOKED CONFUSED AND could not do it (HERE, YOU WROTE THAT HE COULD ONLY DO IT WITHOUT A CONFUSING FACE. YOU NEED TO PLACE THESE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES JUST BEFORE THE WORD THE DESCRIBE, SUCH AS "THE YOUNG MAN, WITH A CONFUSING FACE, COULD NOT DO IT). NEXT ("AFTER THAT IS A BIT AWKWARD, NOT SHUN-LI, NOT SMOOTH) the wise man picked up a stone and threw it away, then asked him to fetch it back. The young man ran AFTER the stone TO LOOK FOR IT. After a long time, he came back with a stone, not feeling sure it was the SAME one. FINALLY, the WISE man take a pearl out from his pocket and threw it FAR away (WITH FORCE IS ACCURATE, BUT NOT BEAUTIFUL AT ALL, AWKWARD). The young man SUCCESSFULLY fetched it back very QUICKLY (MORE CHA-DANG, APPROPRIATE THAN SOON). Then the wise man patiently told the young man that many people complain THAT their talents are not recognised. "The only reason," HE SAID, "is that you are just a sand, not a pearl." I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU MEAN THE NEXT SENTENCE WAS SAID BY THE WISE MAN, OR THAT THE READER SHOULD GLEAN THIS MEANING FROM THE STORY. SO, I GIVE YOU BOTH SCENARIOS: HE CONTINUED, "IF you are a GRAIN OF sand, then no one can find you; if you a re a stone, you may be discovered by luck; if you are a pearl, what can cover your distinguishing quality?" OR THIS WAS MEANT TO SAY THAT IF ONE IS LIKE A GRAIN OF SAND, ONE CANNOT BE FOUND, IF A STONE, PERHAPS