Meaning: In ancient times, people who studied must have teachers. Teachers can be relied on to impart truth, teach research and answer difficult questions. People are not born to understand reason, who can have no doubts? With doubts and not learning from teachers, those who become difficult problems will not understand in the end.

This sentence comes from the Teacher's Theory written by Han Yu in the Tang Dynasty.

Excerpt from the original:

Ancient scholars must have teachers. Teacher, so preach and teach to solve doubts. People are not born knowing, who can have no doubt? If you are confused and don't follow the teacher, you will be confused and you will never understand. Before I was born, I studied Tao before I was born, so I learned from Tao. After I was born, I studied Taoism first, so I studied Taoism. I am a teacher, and I don't know that years were born in me. Therefore, there is no nobility, no inferiority, no length, no shortage, and the existence of Tao and the existence of teachers.

Interpretation of vernacular:

People who studied in ancient times must have teachers. Teachers can be relied on to impart truth, teach research and answer difficult questions. People are not born to understand reason, who can have no doubts? With doubts and not learning from teachers, those who become difficult problems will not understand in the end.

Born in front of me, he understood the truth earlier than me, so I will follow him and regard him as a teacher; Born behind me, if he knew the truth before me, I should follow him and regard him as a teacher. I am learning from him. Who cares if he was born earlier or later than me? Therefore, regardless of status and age, the place where truth exists is the place where teachers exist.

Extended data:

"Teacher's Theory" expounds the truth of learning from a teacher, satirizes the world that is ashamed of being a teacher, educates young people and plays a role in changing the atmosphere. This paper lists positive and negative examples, compares and demonstrates repeatedly, discusses the necessity and principle of learning from teachers, criticizes the bad habit of "being ashamed to learn from teachers" in society at that time, shows extraordinary courage and fighting spirit, and also shows the spirit of expressing opinions independently regardless of the secular.

Although the article also positively discusses the role of teachers, the importance of learning from teachers, who will be a teacher and other issues, it focuses on criticizing the bad atmosphere of being ashamed of learning from teachers that was popular among scholar-officials at that time. Judging from the writing intention and main spirit of the article, this is a highly targeted refutation paper.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia _ World Theory