I studied Zhuge Liang's "Book of Commandments" two days ago, and I would like to share what I learned with you.

Original text:

The conduct of a gentleman is to cultivate one’s character through tranquility and to cultivate one’s virtue through frugality. Without indifference, there is no clear ambition; without tranquility, there is no far-reaching goal. 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 impatient and slow, you will not be able to stimulate your essence, and if you are dangerous and impetuous, you will not be able to cure 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!

Translation:

The character of a person who has both ability and political integrity relies on inner peace and concentration to cultivate his body and mind, and relies on self-discipline and frugal style to cultivate virtue.

If you don’t look down on the immediate gains and losses of fame and fortune, and if you have distracting thoughts and entanglements in your mind, you won’t have clear and firm ambitions; if you can’t study quietly and peacefully, you won’t be able to realize your lofty ideals. Learning requires tranquility of body and mind and concentration, and continuous learning is required to increase talents.

If you don’t study hard, you can’t increase your intelligence, and if you don’t clarify your ambitions, you can’t achieve anything. The pursuit of excessive enjoyment and laziness cannot inspire the spirit; recklessness, frivolity and impetuousness cannot cultivate the temperament.

The years pass by, and the will wears away with the years. In the end, they age like dead branches and leaves day by day, becoming people who do nothing, and most of them are of no use to society. Until then, how can we be trapped in our own small and poor house, sighing with sadness, how can we have time!