1. Washington, the Founding Father of the United States
On September 3, 1783, Britain officially recognized the independence of the United States. On November 2, at Rocky Hill near Princeton, Washington delivered a farewell speech to the soldiers who had followed him in the war for many years. He said: "You have been indomitable and victorious warriors in the army; in society, you are also He will be worthy of being a morally noble and useful citizen. "The personal virtues of frugality, prudence and diligence in civilian life are as valuable as the more magnificent courage, unyielding and enterprising spirit on the battlefield." Finally, he publicly expressed his upcoming retirement. The ardent desire of civilian life, "The curtain of separation will soon be drawn down, and he will withdraw from the stage of history forever." Two days later, Washington left New York Harbor by boat, and there was a huge flow of people on the shore to see him off. On December 23, Washington resigned from all public offices to the Continental Congress, personally handed back his letter of appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, formally demobilized and returned to his field, and then returned to his hometown of Mount Vernon, which he missed day and night. In a letter to a friend, Washington said: "Dear Marquis, I have finally become an ordinary citizen on the Potomac River, relaxing under my own grape trellis and fig tree, watching. The noise of the military camp and the busyness of official duties. The kind of quiet happiness I enjoy at this time is those soldiers who greedily pursue fame, those politicians who plot day and night and are willing to destroy other countries for their own gain, and those who always watch their words to benefit the king. What the smiling jesters cannot understand. I hope to be able to walk alone and finish my life's journey contentedly, and I will be contented."
As we can see from the above letter, from the general. To Washington, it was normal for him to become a citizen, just like when he was called to serve his country, it was his duty to serve his country. This was an obligation and a responsibility, as well as his sense of honor as a soldier and the basic principles of his life. Once victory comes and the drama comes to an end, he bids farewell to this stage calmly, without a trace of hesitation or nostalgia. In Washington's view, doing anything for the country is a responsibility and obligation, not a means to obtain personal gain.
2. Prime Minister Zhu Rongji
Outgoing Prime Minister Zhu Rongji is indifferent to life: he neither writes books nor reads biographies
At that time, Zhu Rongji once said: I only hope that when I leave office After that, I will be very satisfied if the people across the country can say that he is an upright official and not a corrupt official. If they were more generous and said that Zhu Rongji still did some practical things, I would be grateful.
4. Zhuangzi
The world is full of mortals. There are many people who live for fame and run for profit. In today's society, there are only a handful of people who can truly be indifferent to fame and wealth, and live in peace and tranquility. When we turn to the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, a large number of literati and scholars appear before us: Zhuang Zhou, Tao Yuanming, Wang Wei, Meng Haoran... They are indifferent to fame and fortune and retire to the countryside. The pioneer who is indifferent to fame and fortune should be Zhuang Zhou .
When the pursuit of self-worth conflicts with his own destiny, Zhuangzi has no choice but to pursue a kind of "sentiment and faith, inaction and intangibility, which can be passed on but not accepted, and which can be obtained but not seen" ("Zhuangzi·The Great Master") )'s highly abstract and extremely concrete "Tao". This highest void existence has infinite possibilities set by itself. Therefore, if an absolutely quiet mind enters the realm of "Tao", the spirit will gain absolute freedom, and there will be no restraints from material desires and competition for fame in life.
In Zhuangzi's view, the pursuit of fame and wealth is like "licking hemorrhoids to get a car":
There were Cao merchants in the Song Dynasty who served as envoys to Qin for the king of Song. To go there, you have to take several cars. The king said that it would make a hundred chariots useful. In the Song Dynasty, I met Zhuangzi and said: "...the one who once realized the master of ten thousand chariots and followed the chariots to hundreds of chariots is the leader of business." Zhuangzi said: "The king of Qin called for a doctor when he was sick. Those who broke the carbuncle and acne got one chariot. If you lick the hemorrhoids, you will get five chariots. How can you cure the hemorrhoids?" ("Lieyu Kou")
The fable satirizes and ridicules those who win the favor of the ruler and gain fame and fortune through despicable and despicable behaviors. For example, the "several rides of cars" and "hundred rides of cars" obtained by Cao Shang were ridiculed as being obtained by "licking hemorrhoids", and said: "After being cured, more cars will be obtained."
"The pursuit of such utilitarian life values ??is nothing more than a "trick of merit", which will eventually lead to "the heart of forgetting the wife" ("Zhuangzi·Heaven and Earth").
In the Warring States Period, when many While the scholar-bureaucrats regarded establishing a name as a way to immortalize their lives, Zhuangzi pointed out: “Famous people are the guests of reality. "("Zhuangzi·Xiaoyaoyou") "The names are the same as those of each other. " ("Zhuangzi: Human World") He fully exposed "name", something that alienates people (hypocrisy, mutual strife, etc.).
And "Weaving shoes in embarrassment", "Lending millet to Jianhe River" Zhuangzi, a "Hou", did not pursue fame and fortune, but refused to be given the chance: "King Wei of Chu heard about Zhuang Zhou Xian, and sent an envoy with generous coins to welcome him, promising him to be the prime minister. Zhuang Zhou laughed and said to the envoy of Chu: "A thousand pieces of gold means great profit; a minister of high rank means high position." ... I would rather enjoy myself in the play of filth and blasphemy than to be restrained by the rulers of the country. I would rather not be an official for the rest of my life in order to satisfy my ambitions. '" ("Historical Records: Biography of Zhuangzi") He regarded the phase as a "rotting rat" and would rather "quick my ambitions" than "be restrained by the country", showing his indifference to fame and fortune.
This indifferent state of mind makes him unruly, contemptuous of etiquette and dignitaries, and uncooperative with the rulers. On the contrary, those who pursue fame and fortune eventually "sacrifice themselves for profit" and become a "little man" ("Zhuangzi Pian"). Thumb").
Zhuangzi, who was indifferent to fame and fortune, pursued a kind of spiritual freedom. Such as the fable "Zhuangzi fished in the Pu River":
Zhuangzi fished in the Pu River. The king sent the two officials to go ahead and said, "I hope the territory will be exhausted!" Zhuangzi held the pole and ignored it, saying: "I heard that there is a magical turtle in Chu. It has been dead for three thousand years." ...This turtle, would he rather die to keep his bones? Wouldn't it be better for him to be alive and drag his tail in the middle of the painting? The second doctor said: "I would rather be born with my tail swaying in the paint." Zhuangzi said: "Go ahead, I will drag my tail in the paint." " ("Autumn Waters")
It can be seen that Zhuangzi is not willing to "pay money to keep bones", and would rather "trail his tail in the paint" like a tortoise. This kind of view of fame, wealth, power, glory and wealth is a negative thing Tiredness is not a eccentricity that arises after the desire for power is extinguished, but a special understanding and pursuit of personal spiritual freedom. This pursuit is a true relief from spiritual burden. In other words, it is a kind of relief. The emptiness of the inner life value, rather than the alienation after being burdened by fame and wealth.
When Zhuangzi held up in front of him, "The name is the guest of reality" and "The name is the opposite." When he raised the banner, he was followed by a group of followers who were tired and regretful on the road to fame and fortune. Zhuangzi was a straightforward and sincere old boy, a pioneer who was indifferent to fame and fortune.