It means: Some things, such as the material enjoyment of food, clothing, housing and transportation, should be satisfied, but in the pursuit of knowledge and learning, one should not be satisfied. Do what you should do, and resolutely not do what you shouldn't do.
This couplet was written by Xie Luan'en and hangs in Bing Xin's former residence. Xie Luan'en is Xie Bingxin's grandfather. This couplet shows his principles for doing things for students.
This couplet is full of the philosophy of life and the essence of dialectics. It can be used as a motto for people to live in the world, and it is also a motto for studying and studying. Who should be "contented" and who should be "insufficient in knowledge"? The ancients said, "Being content with one's situation is more important than learning and not knowing enough." It can be seen that the predecessors emphasized that "learning", that is, the accumulation of knowledge and the exploration of knowledge, should never be satisfied.
Extended information
"Contentment" in "Laozi", the philosophical work of Laozi (Li Er) during the Spring and Autumn Period, refers to the need to be content with material enjoyment, fame, wealth, and status. Know that you are satisfied and cannot be greedy.
Be content and avoid being humiliated. This not only contains the idea of ??"being wise and protecting yourself", but also contains the rational core of suppressing unreasonable desires and maintaining harmony between body and mind.
The phrase "knowing insufficiency" comes from "Book of Rites·Xue Ji": "After learning, you will know your insufficiency,... If you know your insufficiency, you will be able to reflect on yourself."
The general idea is that, Only through learning can you understand your own shortcomings and learn your own shortcomings, and then you can study hard in turn.
"Lack of knowledge" shows a positive enterprising spirit, a strong desire for knowledge and a humble and studious attitude. We must keep making progress in our knowledge and career and never be satisfied.