The vernacular translation of "If you are knowledgeable in literature, you should be ashamed to act in your own way. You can learn from yourself and even the world." The vernacular translation is that you should learn cultural knowledge extensively and be ashamed of yourself. From your own personal affairs to the affairs of the world and the country, these are all things that you should learn from.
As for "being knowledgeable in literature", Gu Yanwu pointed out that "from one person to the world and the country", everything related to the national economy and people's livelihood must be explored in a down-to-earth manner. This article advocates the practical learning of being knowledgeable and practical in dealing with the world, and opposes the empty learning of words and deeds. Regarding "there is a shame in doing things", the author believes that scholar-bureaucrats should not only refrain from doing anything in coming in and out, coming and going, saying and accepting, taking and taking, but also should take the world as their own responsibility.
Extended information
"It is shameful to be knowledgeable in literature and practice one's own. From one's own body to the world, all countries have learned something." This comes from Gu Yanwu's "Book of Discussing Studies with Friends". This article is selected from Volume 3 of "Gu Tinglin's Poetry and Essays·Tinglin's Collected Works". This is a letter to a friend, talking about the principle of studying.
The letter criticized the style of study of some Neo-Confucianists since Wang Shouren of the Ming Dynasty who talked about human nature and was divorced from reality. "There is no shame in doing what is right". Pay equal attention to erudition and self-cultivation. This was also inspired by the conduct of some scholar-officials in the early Qing Dynasty.
This is a famous theoretical book. According to recent research, it was written in the sixth year of Kangxi's reign, and the "friends" in the title refer to Zhang Erqi and others. Zhang Erqi, courtesy name Jiruo, was a native of Jiyang, Shandong Province and a survivor of the Ming Dynasty. He was very knowledgeable in Confucian classics. In the 14th year of Shunzhi, Gu Yanwu traveled north to Jinan and became friends with him at first sight. From then on, the two exchanged letters from time to time. Zhang Erqi was very moved after reading this book, and immediately wrote a reply.