"Failure could be merely an interlude in the progression of one's life. As long as one doesn't give in easily, one will always have the opportunity to choose the outcome," Hu wrote.
But even before falling sick in the US this month, Hu had had another unforgettable experience fighting severe illness.
While serving as foreign minister in the summer of 1998, Hu made a one-week trip to five of Taiwan's allies in Africa. On his way back to Taiwan, he began suffering from a fever and was hospitalized. However, malaria experts in Taiwan could not find out what the problem was.
"It was alarming to me," Hu recalled of his illness a few years ago.
"At that point I knew I should pay attention to my health," he said, while admitting that he forgot his promise after getting absorbed in his work following his he recovery.
This time, Hu has said he would slow down, although the press treated this promise with skepticism when they met with Hu in Taichung yesterday morning.
"They said it's impossible for Jason Hu to slow down, but I'll have to prove it," Hu said.
Even his close aide held some doubts about his promise.
"I don't really believe what he said. Once he feels better, he'll get down to work. It's a question of one's personality ... He is a perfectionist," Lin said.
"But it's our subordinates' responsibility to adjust his itinerary for him," Lin added.
When he was sick, Hu also came to realize how important his family was to him.
"If you don't endeavor to spend time with your family, you may find it's too late and you don't have the opportunity anymore," Hu said, a reflection his son Jess would definitely agree with.
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