1. All the mediocre people in the world, ancient and modern, are defeated by one word of laziness; all the talents in the world, both ancient and modern, are defeated by one word of arrogance.

2. When scholars study, they must first be ambitious, secondly knowledgeable, and thirdly perseverant. If you have ambition, you will never be willing to be humble. If you have knowledge, you know that knowledge is endless, and you dare not be satisfied with just one thing. You are like a river boy looking at the sea, or a well frog looking at the sky, both of which have no knowledge. With perseverance, nothing can be accomplished. All three are indispensable.

3. The sky shines on the sea, and there are countless flowers. The flowing water and the high mountains are self-aware.

4. No love in the past, no love in the present, no welcome in the future.

5. When ordinary people do something, they must concentrate on it with all their concentration, without any change in thoughts. Do this, think that, sit on this mountain, and look at that mountain. People have no permanence and achieve nothing throughout their lives.

6. Those who are too impatient will not have a sense of perseverance, those who are too fearful will not have outstanding views, those who are too lustful will not have generosity, those who talk too much will not have a sincere heart, and those who are too brave will not have a sincere heart. Literary elegance.

7. Only the most sincerity in the world can defeat the most false in the world; only the most clumsy in the world can defeat the most skillful in the world.

8. Quotes from Zeng Guofan: 1. To be disliked by others cannot be separated from being arrogant. 2. Don’t be too smart. 3. To have a broad mind, you must learn from the word plain. 4. Those who enjoy great fame without reality will be in great trouble. 5. Don’t criticize the ancients lightly. 6. Be still first, then think about it, and then do it with 50 or 60% confidence. 7. Start anew and reopen the world. 8. To be self-reliant, a man must be stubborn. 9. Being troubled and worried is the time to hone your heroes. 10. Don’t take credit for your merits, and don’t shirk blame for your mistakes.

9. Four ways to look at people: be trustworthy, have no bureaucracy, be organized, and don’t talk too much.

10. A person who likes reading will not have bad character; a person with good character will not have bad luck in life.

50 excerpts from Zeng Guofan's calligraphy and family precepts

11. Light wealth is enough to gather people, self-indulgence is enough to convince others, magnanimity is enough to win people, and being proactive is enough to lead people.

12. Be determined, work hard, and work hard. No matter how big or small, you will succeed.

13. The sky can be mended, the sea can be filled, and the Nanshan Mountains can be moved. The sun and the moon have passed and cannot be traced back.

14. Trying to do things with suspicious people will never work out. If you do things with beneficial people, you will suffer.

15. Don’t be afraid of being poor when you are young in life.