This sentence comes from Xunzi's Persuasion in the pre-Qin period. It mainly tells us that knowledge needs to be accumulated, and we must study step by step, be down-to-earth and persevere in order to get the results we want.
1. What is the main point of this article "encouraging learning"?
Literally, it is to clarify the truth of learning from some aspects and encourage us to learn. We can interpret it in four parts.
first part
From "a gentleman says: you can't learn" to "a gentleman is cautious about what he says".
This part mainly tells us the importance of learning. Xunzi used metaphors to help us better understand his thoughts. He said that indigo is extracted from Polygonum multiflorum Thunb, but it is greener than Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Ice is condensed from water, but it is cooler than water. This tells us that anyone who keeps learning can make progress, so "learning can't stop" (learning can't stop).
the second part
From "accumulation of soil makes mountains, wind and rain flourish" to "people who don't know."
This part mainly tells us to study persistently. Xunzi also used "no accumulation, no miles; If you don't accumulate small streams, you won't be a river. It tells us that you can't reach a thousand miles without accumulating step by step. If you don't accumulate small streams, you won't be a river. Therefore, if you don't accumulate knowledge bit by bit, you won't become learned.
the third part
From "learning while learning" to "this is called".
This part mainly talks about the contents and methods of learning. Xunzi told us that we should start from reading classic books such as poems and books, and then read The Book of Rites, and the best way to learn is to get close to a good teacher.
part four
From "a hundred shots are fired at a hundred times, but not good at shooting" to "the sky sees its brightness and the earth sees its light, and the gentleman values it all."
The last part is about the purpose of learning. Xunzi believes that a gentleman can be perfect only if he studies thoroughly and well. Therefore, he should listen correctly, look correctly and think correctly, and finally he can be firm, improvise and become a moral and ethical person.
Second, under what background did Xunzi write this article?
It was during the Warring States Period. As we all know, those who studied history in those days were in troubled times. A hundred schools of thought contend with their own ideas and opinions. Xunzi was a representative figure of Confucianism in the late Warring States period. He wants to tell people the importance of learning the day after tomorrow with his own ideas, so he created the article "Persuade Learning" to encourage people to change themselves through learning and become a gentleman with moral character and integrity.
Third, who is Xunzi?
Xunzi was a thinker and educator at the end of the Warring States Period. In fact, this is still a bit general. We can understand him from his thoughts. For example, he advocates the theory of evil nature, which is just the opposite of Mencius' theory of good nature. Xunzi believes that all beautiful and valuable things need to be obtained through hard work. Value and culture are also defined by people, so human nature needs education to become "good".
Xunzi also advocated "controlling the destiny and using it", which roughly means that we should not be dominated by nature, but should dominate nature and conform to its laws.
Xunzi is really a learned man. He wrote a book and put forward an idea. He also offered wine to Xia Xue Palace in the State of Qi three times. Friends who love watching costume TV dramas should know that Jiuji is the director of this college, equivalent to the principal. Now everyone should have a preliminary understanding of Xunzi.