Song dynasty; surname
Lu you
The ancients learned nothing,
Young people never grow old.
What you get on paper is superficial,
Never knew it needed doing.
The ancients spared no effort in learning. They began to work hard when they were young, and they didn't achieve anything until they were old. After all, the knowledge gained in the book makes people feel shallow. To truly understand the profound truth in the book, you must practice it yourself.
Lu You's poems emphasize the view that book knowledge can only be really useful through active practice.