There are two sentences in "The Book of Commandments" that are often regarded as the motto of "aiming high". This sentence is "Without indifference, there is no wisdom, and without tranquility, there is no way to reach far."

The meaning of this sentence is that if you do not take the fame and fortune in front of you lightly, you will not have clear ambitions, and if you cannot study calmly, you will not be able to achieve lofty goals.

"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!

Extended information:

"The Book of Commandments"

Translation:

The behavior and conduct of a gentleman improves his self-cultivation through tranquility. , cultivate one's own 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 withered and fell into pieces. 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?

The creative background of "The Book of Commandments":

This article is considered to have been written in the twelfth year of Jianxing of the Shu Han Dynasty (234 AD). It was written by Zhuge Liang to his eight-year-old son in his later years. A letter from Zhuge Zhan. Zhuge Liang served his country his whole life, dedicated himself to it, and died. 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.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Book of Commandments (works of Zhuge Liang)