Determination is only the first step to success. The key lies in whether you really make progress every day. Zeng Guofan has a deep understanding of the role of ambition in people, and he can push himself and others. Zeng Guofan emphasized this point more than once in his letters to his younger brothers. For example, he mentioned his ninth brother Bandu in his letter, which reads as follows:
The fourth brother took the first step. They haven't heard from their brothers since they sent the letter in July. It is a hundred times more difficult to send a letter in the country than in the provincial capital, so I don't expect it. However, Jiudi's former letter intends to go with Liu Xiaxian, which is very good. Xia Xian recently read Zhu Zishu, and he learned a lot. I don't know what his words are like in Rong Zhi. What is the scale and weather like? If the words are polite and can express dignity, then you think the teacher can also be a special friend. However, it is better to live with them, to really benefit, and not to have a false desire. If people can make up their minds, then what about saints and heroes? Why use people? I want to be kind. I am so kind. If I want to be Confucius and Mencius, I will work hard day and night, but Confucius and Mencius are studying. Who can resist and resist me? If I don't yearn for it, I will live with Don every day, and I will be self-sufficient. How can I benefit from it? Last year, Wen Fu wanted to go to the provincial capital to study. I thought he had made great progress since he left the cramped place at home, but with the provincial capital, he has made great progress. But in the past two years, he didn't read much. As for poetry, he has never made progress, which can't be blamed on the promotion of the local government.
Last year, I chose Ding Jun as my teacher. Seeing that Ding Jun was too far away, I couldn't keep up, so there was no other teacher to follow. This year, my brother chose to change from Luoshan to Wenwen, and then there was no news, but I can't blame him for not having good friends.
The sun and the moon are gone, and it will be over 30 in a few years, so we should make great efforts before 30.
Being taught by my father but unable to teach my brother to become famous, I feel deeply ashamed; When others make friends with Yu, many of them get benefits from Yu, but the two brothers can't get benefits from Yu, which I hate! I'll send you a letter from Xia Xian. You can copy it and keep it, and play with it carefully. This surplus has been a great force for learning and thinking for many years. My sixth brother asked me to copy his poems back, but I didn't save them a few years ago. Those recently saved are only over 100 ears, so I really don't have time to copy them. I will return the whole book next year. National vermicelli grass (September 24 th, Daoguang 19 th) The main idea of the letter is that Bandu's idea is very good, but he should choose the right person. Only in this way can we benefit from each other and grow together. He also argues that if you can make up your mind by yourself, the future is boundless. In the final analysis, relying on others is only an auxiliary way. The influence of environment and others is secondary, and the key lies in oneself. What kind of ambition can make you a person, even if you want to be a saint, it is not impossible. And time flies, it's 30 years old, so my younger brothers should set their ambitions as early as possible, make progress every day and finally achieve something.
Zeng Guofan not only mentioned in his letter that his younger brother was determined to study, but also felt ashamed that he could not let his younger brothers study more, thinking that he had not fulfilled his responsibility as an elder brother.
In addition, Zeng Guofan also preached his reading experience to his brothers and placed high hopes on them. He once wrote in a letter to his family:
The first step of four brothers: I sent a letter two months ago, and I think I have received it. Yu Meng's ancestors, grandfather's lessons, thanks to his surname, have nothing to worry about and nothing to lose when having an affair. Those who hope will be strengthened by all the disciples, working together with one heart and one mind. Why not keep their names inconspicuous and worry about their family's luck?
If you want to find another way, talk more about the rules and regulations, so that Zhu's younger brother can abide by them, but he is afraid that his younger brothers will be annoyed by them. Brother wants to be silent, which is not the way to supervise responsibility. I used to give lessons to my brothers, but recently I only taught them one word "perseverance". I look forward to my brothers, but it will be a great comfort to tell me about their homework every month!
That is, every time you write a letter, your brothers never state their careers, but talk about family affairs and everything in Beijing; At this time, I was at home in Chongqing. I was in charge of foreign affairs, and my brothers didn't care. Write a letter in the future, but write a few poems, compositions and books every month, and tell me in detail, then I will be happy! My brothers can be people in scientific names or in learning. My parents' orders will make me happy. The surname of Shenfu is a little late, so it is independent. For example, Xia Xian's position today is higher than that of an idle scholar. The more you learn, the higher your status will be, so it's not worth mentioning. You can just be a scholar.
There are endless ways to learn, but perseverance is the main thing. My brother has been inconsistent in the past few years, but he is a little better these years, but he is still not proficient. Since the beginning of July, I haven't had a day off. Every day, I post hundreds of words, copy hundreds of words and read at least 20 pages, without thinking too much. Since July, I have read Complete Works of Wang (Song Dynasty statesman Wang Anshi) 100, Collected Works of Guizhenzhuan (Ming Dynasty scholar Gui Youguang) 40 volumes, The Book of Songs 20 volumes and The Book of Later Han 100 volumes, all of which are circled by calligraphy. Although I am extremely busy, I still have to do my homework today, not to delay yesterday, but to make up for it today, not to have something to do tomorrow, but to do it in advance today.
If the younger brothers can be so persistent, then even if the fourth brother is of medium qualification, he should achieve something. What about the excellent qualifications of Brother Liu and Jiu Ge? I wonder if I have decided where to drop out of school next year. No matter at home or outside, you can't do anything, saying that you don't study hard at home is smart for those who pass the buck. I'm working hard in Beijing, and I'm busy with my daily affairs, but I still can't ask questions. What happened to my family? Starting from 10, the bookstore Jun Xian wrote a composition every ten days and read fifteen pages every day, which is also very constant. The two brothers tried to circle Zhu Xi's Outline, but it was only a few months later. If you read the notes, it will be finished in a few months. Don't stop reading because you have something at home, and don't stop reading because the exam is approaching. Although you can walk to the store, you can also watch it on the day of the exam. My brother looks around day and night, but I have the word Heng to tell my brothers, hoping they will pay attention to it. Brother Fan Shoucao (Daoguang 2004 1 1 month 2 1 day) said that you should be the supervisor of your eldest brother and understand the lessons of your younger brothers.
I hope I can learn about the content of study and the number of exercises from books at home every month, so as to get comfort and happiness.
The letter particularly emphasized "perseverance", saying that perseverance is the most important thing in learning. People who really have this spirit will not worry about being a late bloomer, will not spend three days fishing and two days drying their nets for homework, will not relax their demands on themselves just because they study at home, will not find any excuses to study less, and will not just read it carefully. He also cited himself as an example, saying that he had no perseverance before, but he has improved a lot in recent years. He insists on copying, copying, reading and annotating every day, and never slackens. I hope my younger brothers don't waste their talents. Just because they are smart, they should cherish them more.
After inculcating, Zeng Guofan once again emphasized the importance of "perseverance" and showed his love for his younger brothers beyond words. After reading this, people can't help but sigh that Zeng Guofan's letters can benefit people everywhere. How helpful this lesson from the depths of emotion is. The content of his letters is not only meaningful to later generations, but also embodies the demeanor of an ideological educator, which provides a good example for parents to educate their children today, and everyone should learn from it and benefit from it.