Interpretation: There are as many books as the ocean, and there are all kinds of books. With human energy, you can't read all of them, just find those who want to learn.

source: from the book "Answering Wang Yao" written by Su Shi in the Northern Song Dynasty.

excerpt from the original text:

There is no shortcut. However, if you are talented and strong, and you have studied for several years, you have your own way, but in fact you are all doomed. But I want teenagers to be scholars, and every book is counted.

books are as rich as the sea, and there are all department stores. People can't have all their energy, but they can get what they want. Therefore, I hope that scholars will ask for one idea at a time. If you want the rise and fall of the ancient and modern times, the role of sages, but you want it, don't give birth to Yu Nian. Don't do it again, and ask for deeds, laws and cultural relics, and so on. ?

Vernacular translation:

Actually, it's useless. There is no shortcut to learning. But man of great talent, like you, is in the prime of life. If you study hard for a few years, you will naturally learn something and gain something. In fact, this is the only way to learn. I mean, I hope you can become a scholar and read every book several times.

There are as many books as the ocean, and there are all kinds of books. With human energy, you can't read all of them, just look for those who want to learn. So I hope you make a plan every time, just like you want to know the rise and fall of ancient and modern times and the actions of sages, and learn this aspect specially without other ideas. Next time, I will make a plan to find books such as allusions and laws, which are all like this. ?

Extended information:

Creative background:

Su Shi was deeply saddened by the loss of Wang Yao's father, and studied hard at home, so he was proficient in hundreds of classics and history, and he was praised a lot. He once called him "more than a pen, and his words were extraordinary." However, there are many teachings. This article is a letter to answer Wang Yao's inquiry. Su Shi's literary thought pays equal attention to literature and Taoism. He praised Han Yu and Ouyang Xiu's contributions to ancient Chinese prose, both from the aspects of literature and Taoism.

However, Su Shi's view of literature and Taoism was very unique in the Northern Song Dynasty. First of all, Su Shi thinks that the art of articles has independent value, such as "pure gold and beautiful jade". Articles are not just tools for carrying Tao, but their own performance function is an advanced form of human spiritual activities.

Secondly, the "Tao" in Su Shi's mind is not limited to Confucianism, but refers to the law of things in general. Therefore, Su Shi advocates that the article should be as natural as the objective world, with a natural attitude.