The gentleman said: learning can't stop.
For example, indigo is extracted from bluegrass, but it is bluer than bluegrass; Ice is condensed from cold water, but it is colder than water. The wood is straight and conforms to the chalk line, but if it is bent into a wheel (extracted by fire), the curvature of the wood (at that time) conforms to the general standard of compass plan. Even if it is dry, (wood) will not be straight again, and the fire will become like this. Therefore, wood will be straightened when measured with ink lines, and metal swords will be sharpened when ground on grindstones. A gentleman learns from others and introspects every day, and then he is wise and reasonable, and his behavior is innocent.
Therefore, if you don't climb the mountain, you don't know how high the sky is; I don't know how thick the ground is without facing the deep stream; If you don't understand the legacy of the emperor, you won't know the breadth of knowledge. People who commit the crime of smuggling are born with the same voice, but when they grow up, their customs and habits are different, which is created by education. The Book of Songs says: "Gentlemen, don't always covet comfort. Respect your work and love the virtue of integrity. The gods will give you good luck and blessings when they hear all this. " There is no greater spiritual accomplishment than being influenced by morality, and there is no greater blessing than not having a disaster.
I have been thinking hard all day, but I can't compare with the knowledge I learned in an instant. I once stood on tiptoe and looked into the distance, but I climbed too high to see widely. Climb high and wave, the arm is not lengthened, but people in the distance can see it; Shouting with the wind, the voice did not increase, but the listener heard it clearly. People who use horses and chariots can walk Wan Li Road if they don't walk fast, and people who use boats and boats can swim across the Yangtze River and the Yellow River if they are not good at swimming. A gentleman's qualifications and disposition are no different from those of ordinary people, but he is good at using foreign things.
In the south, there is a bird called "Mongolian pigeon", which takes feathers as its nest, weaves with hair and ties it to the ear of a tender reed. When the wind blows, the reed spike breaks, the bird's nest falls down and all the eggs are smashed. It's not that the nest is poorly woven, but that it shouldn't be tied to reeds. There is a kind of grass in the west called "Belamcanda". It is only four inches high, but it can overlook hundreds of miles away. Not because grass can grow tall, but because it grows on the top of the mountain. Pennisetum grows in hemp fields and can stand upright without support. White sand will not turn white when mixed into black soil. The root of Sophora japonica is called Ai Xiang. Once it is immersed in smelly water, gentlemen and servants will avoid it. It's not that Ai itself is not fragrant, but that it is soaked and stinks. Therefore, a gentleman should choose a good environment to live and a moral person to make friends, so as to prevent delay and protect his moderation and integrity.
Everything happens for a reason, and the arrival of honor and disgrace also corresponds to virtue. Rotten meat gives birth to maggots, while dead fish give birth to worms. If you slack off and forget the code of conduct, something will happen. Objects that are too hard are easily broken, and those that are too weak are easily bound. If you are not nice to people, it will cause disgust. Dry wood is flammable, low-lying and easy to wet, and there are many animals and plants. Everything is like sheep. Therefore, when the target is set, the bow and arrow will be shot. When a tree grows into a forest, it will lead to axe cutting. When the forest is lush and shady, birds will come to stay. When vinegar turns sour, it will attract mosquitoes. Therefore, words may cause trouble and actions may be humiliated. A gentleman can't help being cautious when dealing with people.