"Quiting halfway" refers to not persisting in doing something to the end.

This passage comes from "The Doctrine of the Mean" in "The Book of Rites": "A gentleman follows the road and gives up halfway. I can't do it."

"Book of the Later Han·Biography of Lienu·Leyangzi's Wife" 》: The master accumulated knowledge and knew that he was going to die that day, so he used his virtue. If we return in the middle way, why is it so different? Yangzi felt his words and returned his final deeds, so he did not return for seven years.

During the Warring States Period, people in Henan (generally known as the south of the Yellow River in ancient times) loved sheep. I picked up a piece of gold on the road and took it home. His wife said: "The origin of this gold is unknown, how can you get it back?" So Leyang put the gold back to its original place. Later, Leyang went to other countries to visit teachers and study. A year later, he came back. His wife was weaving and saw him suddenly coming back, so she asked him: "Have you finished your studies?" Leyang replied: "Not yet. I miss you very much, so I came back first." After hearing this, the wife immediately picked up a pair of scissors and cut the silk thread on the machine, saying: "The raw material of this cloth is produced from silkworm cocoons, and it is woven by a cloth machine; the threads are woven into inches, feet, and pieces. Now put it If you cut it, all your previous efforts will be wasted, and a lot of time will be wasted. When you study abroad, you also have to study and study day by day. If you give up halfway, isn't it the same as cutting the thread on the loom? "

Le Yang was caught by him. Moved by his wife's words, he went back to continue his studies. He stayed there for seven years and returned only after completing his studies. Later, he was reused by Wei Wenhou and made a great career.