If you are indifferent, you will not have a clear ambition, and if you are quiet, you will not be far away.

"If you are not indifferent, you will not be clear-minded, and if you are not quiet, you will not be far away." It was written by Zhuge Liang in the 12th year of Jianxing in Shu Han Dynasty (AD 234) to Zhuge Zhan during his son's mourning period. This is not only a summary of Zhuge Liang's life experience, but also a requirement for his son. Here, Zhuge Liang uses the sentence pattern of "double negation", which expresses his teaching and infinite expectations for his son in a strong and euphemistic tone.

in modern terms, it is: if you don't look down on the immediate fame and fortune, you won't have a clear ambition, and if you can't study calmly, you won't be able to achieve lofty goals.

antonym

be quick for quick success and instant benefit [jí gōng jìn lì]?

definition: eager for success, greedy for immediate interests.

Source: Han Dong Zhongshu's Spring and Autumn Stories, Volume 9, Facing the King of Jiaoxi: "People who are benevolent are right in their way, but they don't seek benefits, so it's no hurry to repair their reasons."

A wise man should follow the right path and should not be eager to make profits; We should abide by reason and should not rush for success.

Example: Academic research requires hard study, long-term efforts, and quick success is not enough.