It means that a wise man is in the world, and he will do great things to teach the world and influence the world with his own virtue. How can a mere reputation be spread?

from Sima Qian's History of the Song Dynasty Biography 95 in Zi Zhi Tong Jian in the Western Han Dynasty.

In the early years of Baoyuan, Song Renzong, Sima Guang, who was only twenty years old, was admitted to the first division of Jinshi, which can be described as an early success. However, instead of being complacent, he boldly put forward: "A sage who lives in the world will behave in righteousness and show himself by virtue, and it is not enough to spread evil by mere fame." This remark reflects that the young Sima Guang is not seeking fame, but is determined to make contributions with benevolence and become a sage. Since then, he has been working hard in this direction.

Sima Guang has always been simple and thrifty, and doesn't like extravagant and flashy things. After entering the Jinshi examination, the emperor gave a wedding banquet, and he was the only one who didn't wear red flowers at the banquet. His companions said to him, "This is a gift from the Holy Family, and you can't go against your orders." Only then did he insert a flower. In his later years, this incident was written into family instructions by Sima Guang to educate his son Sima Kang to pay attention to thrift.

Extended information:

Sima Qian (145 BC or 135 BC-impossible to test) was born in xia yang (now south of Hancheng, Shaanxi)? . Western Han historian and essayist. Sima Tan's son, Ren Taishiling, was imprisoned for defending Li Ling's defeat and surrender, and later served as the secretariat. He worked hard to finish the historical records he wrote, and was called Shi Qian, Tai Shi Gong and the father of history by the later Buddha.

Sima Qian studied in Kong Anguo and Dong Zhongshu in his early years, roaming around, learning about customs and collecting rumors. As a first-time doctor, he served in the southwest. Yuan Feng served as Taishiling for three years (the first 18 years), inherited his father's business and wrote history. He created China's first biographical and general history Historical Records (formerly known as Taishi Gongshu) with his historical knowledge of "studying the relationship between man and nature, connecting the changes of ancient and modern times, and becoming a family statement".

It is recognized as a model of China's history books, which recorded a history of more than 3, years from the ancient legend of the Yellow Emperor to the first year of the inaugural ceremony of Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty. It is the first of the "Twenty-five History" and is praised by Lu Xun as "the swan song of historians, leaving Sao without rhyme".

In the second year of the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (99 years ago), Emperor Wu wanted Li Ling to escort Li Guangli, the general of the second division who came out of Jiuquan to attack the right Xianwang of the Huns. Li Ling declined, and invited 5, foot soldiers to fight alone in court. Emperor Wu appreciated Li Ling's courage and agreed to him.

However, when Li Ling went to Xunji Mountain, he was met by Xiongnu Khan's soldiers. Lubod couldn't help him, but the Xiongnu soldiers gathered more and more. After the grain was exhausted, Li Ling finally surrendered to the enemy.

Emperor Wu was angry, and all his ministers denounced Li Ling's sins. Only Sima Qian said, "Li Ling served his relatives and was faithful to the scholars, and always had the heart of serving the country. He only took 5, infantry, which attracted all the strength of the Huns and killed more than 1, enemies. Although he was defeated and surrendered to the enemy, his merits could be offset. I don't think Li Ling really surrendered to the enemy. He lived to find opportunities to repay the Han Dynasty. " ?

However, after Gongsun Ao failed to welcome Li Ling and lied about Li Ling's training for Xiongnu in order to fight back against the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wudi married Li Ling's family, and Sima Qian was also convicted of "lobbying for Li Ling because he wanted to be a second teacher". The crime of false negligence is a crime of irreverence, which should be beheaded according to the law.

facing the punishment of the Great Restoration, Mu Yi died. Although his reputation can be guaranteed, his book was not written and his name was not established. This death is like a drop in the bucket, just like the death of an ant. ?

The Book of Changes is deduced from the thought of King Wen's detention in prison, and the Spring and Autumn Annals was written by Zhong Ni when he was in distress. Li Sao was given by Qu Yuan's exile, Mandarin was given to Zuo Qiu's blindness, and the art of war was studied after Sun Bin's squatting. The Spring and Autumn Annals of Lu was handed down from Lv Buwei's banished territory, and Han Fei was imprisoned in Qin State, making difficult speeches and. ?

At that time, Sima Qian resolutely chose to be redeemed by corruption. At this point, Sima Qian was burdened with the ideal that his father had failed to complete all his life, and faced the capital punishment without fear. In perseverance and humiliation, he completed the mission that belonged to Tai Shigong and completed the Historical Records.

Baidu encyclopedia-Sima Qian