Zhao Pu, the founder of the Northern Song Dynasty, once said that all the knowledge he knew in his life came from the book "Analects".
He said that he had used half of the content of the book to assist Emperor Taizu in pacifying the world, and as for the remaining half of the book, he hoped to use it to assist His Majesty in achieving peace and prosperity.
As a Confucian classic, the Analects occupies a very important place in the hearts of many people.
Thousands of years ago, Confucius and his talented students sat around and talked and laughed, full of wisdom.
Next, let's discuss the following four sentences full of deep meaning, just like the ancestors whispering in their ears how to live this life.
○ Do not cut your own work, do not be able to do it.
Translation: Don't boast about your merits, don't flaunt your talents.
In life, some people often talk about it in social interactions and are anxious to show off to others.
Not only is it not appreciated by others, but it may even be disgusting.
Really powerful people know how to let go of the burden of showing off.
A long time ago, the prince of Wei, Liu Ju, gave birth to a son named Liu Jin, and later, Liu Jin gave birth to Liu Aiji, that is, the emperor's great-grandson.
However, not long after Liu Yi was born, a major event happened - the scourge of witches.
Because of this disaster, the crown prince Liu Ju, his three sons, a daughter, and all his wives and concubines were brutally killed.
Only the little great-grandson of the emperor, Liu Ai, has survived, but he was also imprisoned in the county mansion.
At that time, there was a court eunuch named Bingji, and he was sent to deal with witchcraft cases.
Bingji knew in his heart that the prince was wronged, and he also felt pity for this innocent great-grandson of the little emperor.
So, he specially found two kind-hearted and careful female prisoners to take care of and feed the little emperor's great-grandson.
He also moved the great-grandson of the little emperor to a larger, cleaner and more comfortable cell.
Bingji visits the great-grandson at least twice a day to make sure he is well taken care of.
In this way, the great-grandson of the little emperor grew up in prison, although the environment was difficult, but under the care of Bingji and the two female prisoners.
Later, Liu Yi had become the emperor, that is, Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, and by a coincidence, he learned that Bingji had such a great kindness to him, but Bingji was very low-key and never showed off.
Since then, Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty has more respect for Bingji.
A person's greatest achievement lies in the joy of hard work, not in the fruit of ostentatiousness.
In this life, people must learn not to be complacent because of temporary merits, and not to despise others because of their own achievements.
○The fault of the gentleman is also, like the eclipse of the sun and the moon: the past is also, everyone sees it; What's more, everyone looks up to it.
Translation: A person makes a mistake, just like a solar and lunar eclipse. When the sun or moon is partially obscured, everyone can see it; But once they return to normal and shine on the earth again, people will still be attracted by their brilliance.
If a person makes a mistake, he does not have to cover up his mistake, because no matter how well he covers it, others can still detect it;
It's better to admit your mistakes generously, and when you do better, you can still gain the respect of others.
Once, Emperor Hui of Han decided to build a double-decker flyover to the south of the arsenal.
Because in addition to going to Changle Palace to meet the Queen Mother, he also likes to go shopping.
But every time I go out, in order to protect the emperor's safety, I have to block the road, which makes people feel quite inconvenient.
The emperor also felt that this was too disturbing to everyone, so there was a beginning matter, so that there was no need to close the road when taking the overpass.
But the courtiers who were in charge of the sacrifice heard about it, and hurriedly ran to tell the emperor that this bridge was the road used by Emperor Gaozu to travel in a ceremonial dress every month, and his descendants could not walk on such a sacred road.
When the emperor heard this, he panicked and hurriedly said that he should quickly dismantle the overpass.
Shusun Tong thinks that the emperor is not at fault, this overpass has been built, and everyone knows it, and if it is demolished now, it is tantamount to admitting that he has done wrong.
He suggested building another temple for Emperor Gaozu on the north side of the Wei River, and let him 'travel' once a month.
Moreover, building more temples is also a manifestation of great filial piety.
As soon as the emperor heard this, he ordered another temple to be built, and he no longer cared about the previous "mistakes".
In life, I have seen many people who want to cover up their mistakes, but the result is displayed in a more direct form, which is unbearable.
In a person's life, there will inevitably be times when they make mistakes, and the key is how everyone faces these mistakes, whether they choose to avoid and cover them up, or have the courage to admit them and work hard to correct them.
○ The virtue of the gentleman, the virtue of the villain, the grass, the wind, will die.
Translation: The virtue of a gentleman with character and status is like the wind, while the virtue of ordinary people is like grass. When the wind blows through the meadow, the grass falls down with the wind.
That is to say, a person who has both ability and moral integrity, he can lead a group of people to a brighter path.
Conversely, if a person loses his virtue, so do the people around him.
In the middle of the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, in order to strengthen his rule, adopted harsh laws and reused cool officials to manage his subordinates, which led to the widespread cruel and tyrannical methods of personnel at all levels.
This repressive policy has not been effective in curbing crime, but has only inspired greater resistance.
First of all, with the strictness of the laws and the brutality of the officials, the people's contempt for breaking the law grew, which led to the rise of thieves in the east and the formation of large-scale rebellions.
These rebels not only attacked cities and released prisoners, but also openly killed government personnel.
Faced with this situation, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted military means and sent important ministers and troops to quell the rebellion, although it achieved certain results, but failed to fundamentally solve the problem.
The bandits who had been scattered were still regrouping in the mountains and rivers to form a new threat.
In response to this dilemma, Emperor Wu of Han tried to force his courtiers to pursue thieves more aggressively by increasing their responsibilities.
People hide the thieves from each other for fear of being implicated, which leads to poor information and the problem of thieves is getting worse.
The so-called people with the same temperament will attract each other:
A man who is kind will be equally merciful to his companions.
If you are mean, others will be just as mean.
I hope that you and I can be a breeze that blows slowly, and can bring comfort to people everywhere we go.
○ Chaowen said, the evening can die.
Translation: I learned the truth in the morning, and I don't regret dying in the evening.
In life, spiritual pursuit may be what many people desire.
As long as a person can grasp the truth, even if life is short, it is worth it.
During the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Western Han Dynasty, in a dark and damp prison cell, Xiahou Sheng was imprisoned for his outspokenness and daring advice, and his friend Huang Ba was also involved.
The long imprisonment did not dampen Huang Ba's thirst for knowledge, and he made a request to Xiahou Sheng to study the Shangshu.
Faced with this sudden request, Xiahou Sheng was a little stunned at first, and he responded with a wry smile:
"We are all in sin now, and our lives are hanging by a thread, so what's the use of learning this?"
Huang Ba said that even if his life is about to come to an end, he will have no regrets if he can comprehend the truth in his lifetime.
Xiahou Sheng was deeply moved by Huang Ba's persistence, and it was so commendable that he could still maintain his pursuit of knowledge in the face of adversity.
So, Xiahou Sheng readily agreed to Huang Ba's request.
Since then, in this square inch of cell, the two began an unusual teacher-student relationship.
They forgot about the suffering outside of their bodies, immersed themselves in the breadth and profundity of books, and explored the wisdom of the ancients.
Day after day, year after year, even on a cold winter day, it could not stop their thirst for knowledge.
Two winters passed quietly, but their voices never stopped.
In this life, man has been exploring the Tao, and he has never slackened in the morning and twilight, and has obtained the truth in his heart.
The meaning of one's life is not in its length, but in how one spends it and what one gains in the process.
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To behave in the world and to become a strong person is not to show yourself at all times, but to be rich in your heart;
A person must learn to face up to his mistakes and have the courage to correct them, and every correction is a step towards a more perfect self;
Be a person with good intentions and keep accumulating good fortune for yourself.
May you and I all be the ones who keep moving forward, have the courage to explore, and have the truth in our hearts, and finally gain a rich soul and a full harvest.
Author | The curtain light is round and ·