Make a first-class wish, get a first-class marriage and enjoy a second-class blessing.
Choose a high place to stand, find a flat place to live and walk to a wide place.
This is the only calligraphy hanging in Li Ka-shing's office. It is a poem written by Confucian general Zuo in Meiyuan, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province in the Qing Dynasty.
To "place high hopes" and "aim high" means to have a broad vision and "aim high". We should aim high and aim high.
Wang Wei, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, said: "People with broad vision have achieved great things, while those with narrow vision have achieved small things." We often say that vision determines the realm. Without a broad vision, it is difficult to achieve great things. Only by making good wishes and choosing heights can we broaden our horizons.
Ambitious people will do earth-shattering projects one day, while short-sighted people can only be ordinary people forever.
When he was young, Sun Yat-sen liked to talk about state affairs. Others teased him: "Look at your lofty words, do you want to be the governor of Guangdong?" In the eyes of these people, the governor of Guangdong is extremely great, but Sun Yat-sen said, "I have done much more than the governor of Guangdong.
It was this lofty political ideal that made him embark on the revolutionary road of "abandoning medicine and joining the army and becoming the first person in the Revolution of 1911".
To "tie the knot" and "be equal" means to be down-to-earth, active and safe. We shouldn't be arrogant and think too highly of ourselves. But put yourself on a level ground. Do things smoothly, step by step, step by step. Those who want to do great things and difficult things must do everything easy and simple in a down-to-earth manner.
"Enjoy inferior happiness" and "Be lenient". The happiness of inferiority is the true face of life. All luxury and prosperity are just fleeting, shabby food is the most nourishing, and plain food is the only way to health. Besides, indulging in luxury and prosperity will also damage our health. As the saying goes, "Five colors are blind and five tones are deaf."
Therefore, Taoism taught us to return to nature, and Zhuge Liang taught us to "be quiet to cultivate one's morality, and be frugal to cultivate one's morality." If you are not indifferent, you will have no ambition, and if you are not quiet, you will not be far away. "Simplicity, diligence and health are the best blessings.
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Second couplet
Have overall interests or ultimate goals in mind, and start with specific problems; While working hard on the ground, we should see the overall goal.
Shut up and live alone.
This couplet was written by Zeng Guofan, and it is also the embodiment of Zeng Guofan's wisdom all his life.
Looking at the big picture is to broaden your horizons. As the ancients said, those who don't seek the world are short of seeking for a moment; He who does not seek the overall situation does not seek a domain. When thinking about problems, we must have a global awareness and must see the future. However, the big aspect must be coordinated with the small aspect. Lao Tzu said that drawing is more difficult than easy, because drawing is more detailed. No matter how big things are, we should start with small things, so as to avoid empty talk and vulgarity.
Keeping one's mouth shut is the key to self-cultivation. Zeng Guofan thinks that talkativeness is a fierce virtue and a bad habit. Therefore, he put forward "don't talk too much", don't discuss other people's right and wrong, and don't brag about personal trifles; Don't say anything against principle, don't say anything against conscience.
The essence of Zeng Guofan's "forbidding to talk too much" is not to say too little or even not, nor is silence golden, but to have self-control in the face of people and things, so as to avoid disasters from coming out of the mouth and chaos from coming out of the mouth. In essence, this is a kind of action wisdom that does not entangle things and argues less.
"Living alone and guarding the heart" is the essence of self-cultivation and the realm of being a man. The so-called cautious independence means being cautious when others can't see it; Stay awake when others can't hear you. The so-called "guarding the heart" means keeping one's inner moral bottom line, value bottom line and personality bottom line.
Yang Zhen, a famous minister in the Eastern Han Dynasty, has been known for his integrity for several years. Once, Wang Mi, an old friend, was appointed as the county magistrate because the road crossed Changyi County. That night, Wang Mi came to the inn with ten gold coins, thanking Yang for his kindness. Yang Zhen refused.
Wang Mi said eagerly, "At this time of night, no one knows." Yang Zhen, on the other hand, said bluntly, "How can there be a god when you have an affair in a dark room and hold your head three feet high?" This matter is known from heaven and earth, you know me, what is ignorance? "
Being cautious and independent is the wealth of life, and keeping the heart is the convenient way to practice. Can't stand loneliness is a regret in life, and can't keep your heart is a defect in life. When you live alone, you should guard your own heart, a kind heart, a hardworking heart, a indifferent heart to fame and fortune, and a normal heart.