Born in sorrow and died in happiness is an argumentative essay written by Mencius, a thinker in the Warring States Period. Through the deeds of sages such as Shun and others who rallied their spirits in difficulties, worked hard and finally succeeded, this paper shows that a person must go through all kinds of setbacks and tests to complete his vocation, and then analyze the life and death of a country.
Finally, the thesis of "born in sorrow, died in happiness" was put forward. This paper is fluent in language, and uses the logical method of analogy to explain profound truth. The full text is clear in logical level, rigorous in argumentation, compact in article and full of spirit.
Original works:
Shun happened in Qu N mu, Fu Yu said it was raised between buildings, glue was raised in fish salt, scholar was raised in the sea, and Li xι was raised in the city. Therefore, the day will be a great responsibility, and people must first suffer their minds, work their bones and muscles, starve their bodies, empty their bodies, and do whatever they want. So, be patient, zēng has benefited from what he can't do.
People are unchangeable, and then they can change; Trapped in the heart, balanced in consideration, and then made; Color label, sound hair, and then metaphor. If you enter, you can't stay at home. If you leave, you will be invincible against foreign invasion, and your country will be ruined. In this way, you will know that sorrow is enough to make people live and pleasure is enough to make people die.
Creative background:
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there were wars and disputes. If a country wants to be in an invincible position, it can't be content with the status quo, and it must work hard instead of making progress. If a person is at ease and has no ability to overcome difficulties and get rid of difficulties, then he will be helpless in the face of difficulties, depressed and desperate when he encounters setbacks, just like standing under a collapsed wall, his life is in danger at any time.
Therefore, Mencius's "born in sorrow and died in happiness" is to remind people that no matter what time, they must have a sense of anxiety and be prepared for danger in times of peace, so that they can last forever; If you are content with the status quo, "get drunk today, wake up tomorrow and think deeply", you may be sad and sleepy all your life.