There is a saying in "Xunzi: Encouragement to Learning": "A horse can leap forward, but it cannot take ten steps; a horse can drive ten times, but it is hard to give up the merit."

Meaning

"One leap for a horse, it cannot take ten steps; a horse for ten rides, it is hard to give up." The original meaning is that a horse can travel in one day. Although a horse is slow, but it works tirelessly, it can be reached in ten days. It is a metaphor that people with low intelligence can catch up with people with high qualifications as long as they study hard.

The leap of a thousand-mile horse (Qiji) is less than ten steps, while the old horse only takes one step but does not leave. In comparison, of course the old horse goes further. . This metaphor for learning shows that we should persevere.

Famous aphorisms in "Xunzi Encouraging Learning"

If you persevere, rotten wood will not break; if you persevere, gold and stone can be carved. The gentleman said: You can't stop learning. Green comes from blue, and green comes from blue. If you don't accumulate steps, you won't be able to reach a thousand miles; if you don't accumulate small streams, you won't be able to reach a river or sea. When you live, you must choose a hometown, and when you travel, you must find friends.

If you don’t climb a high mountain, you don’t know how high the sky is; if you don’t go to a deep stream, you don’t know how deep the earth is; if you don’t listen to the last words of the past kings, you don’t know how great knowledge is. The eyes cannot see both ways and the ears cannot hear both ways.

The learning of a gentleman is in the ears of others. The chopsticks touch the heart. If you neglect yourself and forget yourself, you will cause disaster. Therefore, when wood is supported by a rope, it will be straight, and when metal is sharpened, it will be beneficial. A gentleman who is knowledgeable and examines himself day by day will know how to act without making mistakes.

What "Xunzi Encouraging Learning" tells us

"Encouraging Learning" tells us that learning can change people's nature. "There are no faults in one's actions." This means: If a gentleman studies extensively and examines and reflects on himself every day, he will be wise and clear and his actions will be faultless.

"Encouragement to Learning" tells us that we must learn from the sages who are good at using external objects.

"Encouraging Learning" tells us that we must concentrate on learning, pay attention to accumulation, and persevere. "The gentleman says: You can never stop learning." It means: The gentleman says: You can never stop learning.

The creative background of "Xunzi Encouraging Learning"

During the Warring States Period, the slavery system further collapsed, the feudal system gradually formed, and history experienced epoch-making changes. Many thinkers expressed their own opinions on the social changes at that time from different standpoints and perspectives, and gradually formed different sects such as Mohism, Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism, which were historically known as "the Hundred Schools of Thought".

A hundred schools of thought wrote books one after another, promoted their own ideas and criticized others, resulting in a situation of "a hundred schools of thought contending". Xunzi was a representative figure of Confucianism in the late Warring States Period.