It means that if you don’t take the fame and wealth in front of you lightly, you won’t have clear ambitions, and if you can’t study calmly, you won’t be able to achieve lofty goals.

From

This sentence comes from the "Book of Commandments" written by Zhuge Liang to his 8-year-old son Zhuge Zhan. "Tranquility and Zhiyuan" first originated from Liu An's "Huainanzi·Zhushu Xun": "Therefore, if it is not in the desert, it will not be clear, and if it is not quiet, it will not be far.". Dan Bo (dàn bó): Not pursuing fame and fortune, Taoist thoughts are integrated into it. After Zhuge Liang's "Book of Commandments" it evolved into "indifferent".

Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang (181-October 8, 234), courtesy name Kongming, nickname Wolong (also known as Fulong), was the capital of Langya Yang in Xuzhou (now Linyi City, Shandong Province). Nan County), the prime minister of the Shu Han Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, an outstanding politician, strategist, diplomat, writer, calligrapher, and inventor.

In his early years, he followed his uncle Zhuge Xuan to Jingzhou. After Zhuge Xuan died, Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion in Longzhong, Xiangyang. Later, Liu Bei visited the thatched cottage three times and asked to come out to assist Liu Bei in establishing the Shu Han Dynasty. After the establishment of the Shu Han Dynasty, Zhuge Liang was named Prime Minister and Marquis of Wuxiang. He cared for the people internally, showed rituals, appointed officials, obeyed the authority, was sincere, impartial, and externally cooperated with Wu to fight Wei, in order to realize the political rejuvenation of the Han Dynasty. Ideal, he made several Northern Expeditions, but failed due to various factors. He finally died of illness in Wuzhangyuan (now Qishan, Baoji, Shaanxi) in the twelfth year of Jianxing of the Shu Han Dynasty (234) at the age of 54. Liu Chan posthumously named him Zhongwuhou, and later generations often addressed him as Wuhou and Zhugewuhou. The Eastern Jin Dynasty regime named him King Wuxing because of his military prowess.

Zhuge Liang's representative works of prose include "Chu Shi Biao" and "Book of Commandments". He invented the wooden cow and flowing horse, the Kongming lantern, etc., and modified the repeating crossbow, called the Zhuge repeating crossbow, which can fire ten arrows with one crossbow. Zhuge Liang "dedicated his life to death" and was a representative figure of loyal ministers and wise men in traditional Chinese culture.

Original text

The conduct of a gentleman is to cultivate one’s character through tranquility, and to cultivate one’s virtue through frugality. Without indifference, there is no clear ambition; without tranquility, there is no far-reaching goal. Learning requires tranquility, and talent requires learning. Without learning, there is no way to expand talents, and without ambition, there is no way to achieve learning. If you are shy and slow, you will not be able to stimulate your energy; if you are impatient, you will not be able to cultivate your nature. Years go with the times, thoughts go with the sun, and they become withered and withered. Many people do not take on the world, and they stay in the poor house with sadness. How will they be able to get back to you!

Appreciation

This sentence is not only a summary of Zhuge Liang’s life experience, but also a request for his son. Here Zhuge Liang uses a "double negative" sentence pattern, expressing his teachings and unlimited expectations for his son in a strong and euphemistic tone. This is a philosophical statement. This is the same as "if you want to get it, you must first give it to it" and "if you want to achieve your goal, you must first take detours". "Indifferent" and "tranquility" are not about seeking purity and not wanting to achieve anything, but about learning " "Clear ambition", establish lofty ambitions, and when the time is right, you can "reach far" and do something vigorously.

"Tranquility" is an ancient Taoist thought. Laozi once said, "Tranquility is the best, winning but not beautiful." Later generations have continued to appreciate this artistic conception of "peace of mind and soul". For example, in Bai Juyi's poem "Asking about the Autumn Lights", "the body and mind become peaceful, and the smoke and scenery are indifferent". He reflects the author's long-term and broad realm of having no distracting thoughts, being focused and at ease, and not limited to immediate gains and losses. "The conduct of a gentleman is to cultivate one's character through tranquility, and to cultivate one's virtue through frugality. Without indifference, there is no clear ambition, and without tranquility, there is no way to go far. To learn, you must be quiet, and only then you must learn. Without learning, you will not be able to broaden your talents, and without ambition, you will not be successful. Learning. If you are arrogant and arrogant, you will not be able to cultivate your spirit. If you are anxious and impatient, you will not be able to control your nature. As time goes by, your mind will fade away and you will become withered. If you stay in a poor house with sorrow, what will happen next! >

There is also a sentence in the Taoist work "Wenzi" during the Warring States Period: "Without indifference, there is no clear virtue; without tranquility, there is no far-reaching; without generosity, there is no overriding; without righteousness, there is no restraint."

In addition, in the Western Han Dynasty, Liu An's "Huainanzi·Zhushu Xun" also stated: "If it is not thin, it will not be virtuous, if it is not tranquil, it will not go far, if it is not broad, it will not cover everything, and it is not kind." There is no way to hold the public in mind, and there is no way to control anything without fairness.”