Zhuge Liang advised his children that only by being quiet can they cultivate their divinity and meditate and reflect. If you are not indifferent, you will not be able to make your ambitions clear, and if you are not quiet, you will not be able to reach far.
This sentence comes from the "Book of Commandments" written by Zhuge Liang to his son during the Three Kingdoms period.
"The Book of Commandments"
Original text:
A husband and a gentleman should cultivate their moral character through tranquility and cultivate virtue through frugality. Without indifference, there is no clear ambition; without tranquility, there is no way to reach far. Learning requires tranquility, and talent requires learning. Without learning, there is no way to expand talents, and without ambition, there is no way to achieve learning. If you are arrogant and slow, you will not be able to stimulate your essence, and if you are dangerous and impetuous, you will not be able to cultivate your nature. Years go with the times, thoughts go with the sun, and they become withered and withered. Many people do not take on the world, and they stay in the poor house with sadness. How will they be able to get back to you!
Translation:
The conduct of a gentleman improves his self-cultivation through tranquility and cultivates his character through frugality. If you are not calm and have few desires, you will not be able to clarify your ambitions, and if you do not eliminate external interference, you will not be able to achieve lofty goals. Learning requires concentration and concentration, and talent comes from learning. Therefore, without learning, you cannot increase your talents, and without ambition, you cannot achieve success in learning.
Indolence and laziness cannot inspire the spirit, and impatience and risk-taking cannot cultivate the temperament. Time flies by with time, and will with time. In the end, they were withered and scattered. Most of them had no contact with the world and were not used by society. They could only sit sadly in their poor homes. How could they regret it at that time?
Extended information:
The creation background of "Book of Commandments":
This article is believed to be written in the twelfth year of Jianxing of the Shu Han Dynasty (234 AD). It is a family letter written by Zhuge Liang to his eight-year-old son Zhuge Zhan in his later years. Zhuge Liang devoted his whole life to serving his country. He worked day and night for the cause of the Shu Han country and could not take care of educating his son himself, so he wrote this letter to warn Zhuge Zhan.
Appreciation of "The Book of Commandments":
This "Book of Commandments" not only explains the ways and methods of cultivating one's moral character, but also points out the relationship between determination and learning; It understands the importance of tranquility and indifference, and also points out the dangers of indulgence, indolence, and extreme impatience. Zhuge Liang not only had strict requirements on his sons in terms of general principles and was persuasive, but he also showed his subtle care for his children in some specific matters.
In this "Book of Commandments", there is the power of tranquility: "quietness is to cultivate one's morality", "without tranquility, there is no way to go far"; there is the power of frugality: "frugality is to cultivate virtue"; there is detachment The power of inspiration: "Without learning, there is no way to develop one's ambition"; The power of being eager to learn: "To learn, one needs to be quiet, and to be talented, one needs to learn"; The power of inspiration: "Without learning, one cannot expand one's talents, and without one's ambition, one cannot achieve learning";
There is the power of speed: "If you are too slow, you will not be able to inspire your spirit"; there is the power of character: "If you are impetuous, you cannot cure your nature"; there is the power of cherishing time: "The year keeps pace with the time, and the mind keeps pace with the year." "Go away"; it has the power of imagination: "Then it becomes withered, and many people are no longer able to take on the world, and they stay in the poor house with sadness, how will they be able to reach it again"; they have the power of simplicity. This article is just a few words long, and the message conveyed is much more effective than a long article.
About the author of "The Book of Commandments":
Zhuge Liang (181-234), a statesman and military strategist during the Three Kingdoms period. His courtesy name was Kongming, a native of Langyeyangdu (now Yinan, Shandong). In his early years, he fled chaos in Jingzhou and lived in seclusion in Longmu. He was called "Wolong" at that time. Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times, and he proposed to unite Sun Quan to fight against Cao Cao and unify the country. Thereafter he became Liu Bei's main adviser. After Liu Bei became emperor, he was appointed prime minister.
Liu Chan succeeded to the throne and was granted the title of Marquis of Wuxiang, leading Yizhou as a pastor and presiding over the government affairs. In the later period, he aimed at the Northern Expedition. He went on many expeditions and fought with Cao Wei. Finally, he died of illness in Wuzhangyuan. There is "Zhuge Liang Collection".
Baidu Encyclopedia-Book of Commandments