"If children and grandchildren, like me, leave money for what they do, they are virtuous, and if they have more money, they will lose their ambition; My children and grandchildren are not as good as me. What do you do with money? Foolish wealth will benefit you. "

And the meaning of this sentence is: if future generations are like me, what money should I leave him? If children and grandchildren are virtuous and capable, too much money will damage their fighting spirit; If my descendants are not as good as me, what should I leave him the money for? If children and grandchildren are stupid and incompetent, leaving him too much money will only increase his mistakes.

Extended data:

From the day he became an official, Lin Zexu kept in mind his father's family education of "never taking a penny" and pursued it all his life. He also wrote this famous couplet to warn future generations: "What should I do if my children and grandchildren are like me?" If you are virtuous and have more money, you will lose your ambition; My children and grandchildren are not as good as me. What did you leave the money for? Foolish and rich, benefit to increase it. "

This pair of couplets later became the family motto of the Lins. Not only did Lin Zexu's children and grandchildren remember it, but the Lins' children and in-laws also took it as a family heirloom, copied it and hung it on the nave.

Lin Chongyong, his great-great-grandson, commented on him in Biography of Lin Zexu, "Nothing is profitable, and nothing is enthusiastic." This is not only a summary of Lin Zexu's way of being an official, but also a good inheritance of his family style.

People's Network-Lin Zexu's family training does not leave money

People's Network-Lin Zexu Jiafeng