Original text:
A gentleman's journey is quiet and self-cultivation, frugal and self-cultivation, neither modest nor reasonable, nor quiet and far away. If you study quietly, you must study. If you don't study, you won't learn widely. If you have no ambition, you can't succeed. If you are slow, you can't be energetic, and if you are dangerous, you can't be radical. Time keeps pace with the times, meaning keeps pace with the day, and then it becomes withered, and it is very sad to stay in poverty. What will happen?
Translation:
The character of a person with both ability and political integrity is cultivated by inner peace and concentration, and by frugal style. If you don't look down on worldly fame and fortune, you can't define your ambitions, and you can't realize your lofty ideals without physical and mental peace. You must concentrate on your studies, and you must study hard to increase your talents. If you don't study hard, you can't increase your intelligence. If you don't have a clear ambition, you can't achieve anything in your study. Pursuing excessive pleasure and laziness can't cheer up the spirit, and frivolous temper can't cultivate temperament. Over time, the will will wear away with time, and finally it will be useless to society like dead branches and leaves. What's the use of sighing in your own small world?
-
"If you are not indifferent, you will have no ambition. If you are not quiet, you will be far away." From the Book of Commandments written by Zhuge Liang to his 8-year-old son Zhuge Zhan at the age of 54. This is not only a summary of Zhuge Liang's life experience, but also a requirement for his son. Here Zhuge Liang used the sentence pattern of "double negation" and expressed his teaching and infinite expectations for his son in a strong euphemistic tone. In modern words: "If you don't look down on the immediate fame and fortune, you won't have a clear ambition. If you can't study calmly and concentrate on your studies, you can't achieve your lofty goals. "
From the above analysis, we can see that Zhuge Liang used the law of negation of negation in Logic to emphasize that what he wanted to express was "indifferent to Zhi Ming, quiet and far-reaching". This is a philosophical statement. This is the same as the truth that "if you want to take it, you must follow it first" and "if you want to achieve your goal, you must twist it first". Now "indifference" and "tranquility" seek purity and want to do nothing. On the contrary, you should learn from "Zhi Ming" and set high aspirations. When the time is right, you can "go far" and do something vigorous.
"Indifference" is an ancient Taoist thought. Laozi once said that "indifference is the best, and victory is not beauty". Later generations have always inherited and appreciated this artistic conception of "peace of mind". For example, Bai Juyi said in the poem "Ask Qiu Guang" that "the body and mind turn to safety, and the smoke scene is indifferent". He shows that the author is free from distractions, absorbed and comfortable, and is not limited to the long-term broad realm of immediate gains and losses.