classic quotations from Zeng Guofan's family instructions

1. Diligence and hard work, the first is expensive to get up early, and the second is expensive and constant; Where there are no seeds in the generals, there are no seeds in the sages and heroes, and as long as people are willing to make up their minds, they can do it.

2. To study, Gaishi should be ambitious, knowledgeable and persistent. If you are ambitious, you will not be indecent. If you have knowledge, you will know that there is endless knowledge. You can't be self-sufficient with one thing. If you have perseverance, you will never fail. These three are indispensable.

3. If you can work hard to stand on your own feet, you can study in your home school, that is, in the wilderness, in the busy field, and in the paid herdsman. If you can't work hard to stand on your own feet, you can't study in your home school, that is, in the pure land and the fairy land. Why choose the land? Why choose the time? But ask yourself if it's true!

4. I want to stand firm step by step, knowing that others should stand firm, which is called standing firm. I want to work everywhere, and I need to know that others should also work, so-called reaching out. Today I am in prosperity, and I expect that there will be adversity in the future; Today, I bully others, and I expect that others will bully me or my children. Always use the word "forgive" to warn yourself, and always leave room for others, then there are fewer thorns.

5. In the quiet, consider that there is no shortage in ancient and modern times for hundreds of millions of years. During the life, there are dozens of cold and heat, only a moment; Tens of thousands of miles of the earth have no discipline, and people are in it, sleeping and resting, with only one room ear during the day and only one couch ear at night; Ancient books, approachable writings, voluminous, life vision can reach, but a drop in the bucket; There are many things to do, and there are many ways to get a good reputation. Those who are capable of doing things in life are just an ear in Taicang.

if you know the length of the sky and what I have learned is short, you will encounter difficulties and be patient when you encounter them; Knowing that the land is big and the person I live in is small, I will retreat to defend my female when I encounter the situation of glory and profit. Knowing many books and seeing few, I dare not be complacent with one, but choose the good and keep it; Knowing that there are many things and I have done few things, I dare not boast of my fame, but think about the talents and * * * figure it. If the husband is like this, the selfish and complacent view can be gradually eliminated.

6. If you are cautious and independent, you will feel at ease; Second, the main respect is strong; Third, seeking benevolence makes people happy; Fourth, learning to work is a god.

7, mortal love, is not easy and hate to work, regardless of the noble, the humble, the wise, the foolish and the young, all greedy for easy and fear to work, the same in ancient and modern times.

8. In any family, the word diligence and respect can be kept to a certain extent, and there is no disappointment; If you score nothing, you are unbeaten. Harmony can be kept for a few minutes, and there is no disappointment; No one is invincible. My brothers will try to test these three words in the countryside, and they will take my words as true.

9. Three pleasures: diligence and rest, one pleasure; It' s light to eliminate jealousy, and it' s fun; Reading makes a stone, and three pleasures are also.

1. Eight virtues: diligence, frugality, rigidity, brightness, loyalty, forgiveness, modesty and muddiness.

11. The success or failure of a lifetime is related to whether a friend is virtuous or not. Don't be careless.

12. As the saying goes, when I am frustrated and humiliated, I must be clear about inspiration, save my energy and gain wisdom, and never be humble.

13. Family failure can't be separated from luxury, people can't be separated from escape, and people can't be separated from arrogance.

14. Mediocre people all over the world are defeated by a lazy word, while talented people all over the world are defeated by a proud word.

15. The word "don't laugh easily" is the first meaning, and the word "don't be lazy" is the first meaning.

16. When you teach your sons and nephews, you must always be diligent and respectful. Regardless of the troubled times, in every family. There are no losers who can be diligent and respectful, and there are no unbeaten people who are not diligent and disrespectful.

17, reading is like digging a well, digging dozens of wells but not as good as springs, it is better to dig a well and see springs. Reading is always based on memorizing classics, often talking about historical lessons, entering the country regularly every day, and never being tired of being new. If this book is unfinished, don't change your ear.

18. There is nothing better than being kind to others. To teach people by words is to teach people by kindness; Educating people with virtue is to cultivate people with kindness, and it is also a good thing for others. The way to be a gentleman is nothing more than this; Learning from Confucianism is nothing less than this. Zhongni's impermanence teacher, that is, taking people as good; If you do nothing, you will be kind to others. Never tire of it, that is, take others as good ones; Being tireless in teaching others means being kind to others.

19. Those who have achieved great things in ancient times are both large-scale and small-scale.

2. Twelve rules of self-cultivation:

① Main respect: neatness and seriousness, and no carelessness at all times. When there is nothing, the heart is in the cavity; When doing things, be single-minded and not miscellaneous, such as the rise of the day.

② Sit-in: Sit-in for half an hour at any time every day, and experience the kindness of being quiet and giving birth to yang, so that you can be in a calm position, just like the town of Ding.

③ getting up early: I get up when I am tired, but I don't fall in love when I wake up.

④ Reading is the only way: never read another book until you finish reading it. Read it from the east to the west, and learn from others, at the rate of ten leaves a day.

⑤ Reading history: C subscribes for twenty-three histories and reads ten leaves a day, although something happens continuously.

⑥ Caution: Attention is the first priority.

⑦ nourishing qi: there is nothing you can say to people when the gas reservoir is demonstrated.

⑧ health preservation: frugality, abstinence and diet, always as a way to recuperate.

⑨ I know his death on the day: I will talk about one in every diary after tea. It can be divided into virtue, knowledge, economy and art.

⑩ Never forget what you can do in the month: write several poems every month to test the amount of accumulated theory and the prosperity of nourishing qi. Don't blindly cling to it, it is the easiest to lose heart and lose heart.

⑾ writing: writing for half an hour after breakfast, all pen and ink entertainment, as their own homework, do not leave it for tomorrow, the more difficult it is to clear up.

⑿ don't go out at night: you're exhausted, so quit!