Admonitions to My Son (誡子書) - A Letter from Zhuge Liang to His Son
Admonitions to My Son (誡子書) is a letter about life conduct that Zhuge Liang sent to his son Zhuge Zhan when he was fifty-four. Even now, more than a dozen centuries later, it still offers profound insights. Though the ways people live and the systems they build may change, the underlying principle of how to conduct oneself seems to be a law almost unchanged through the ages. It contains many lessons that we must always put into practice: equanimity, integrity, minimalist living, and not clinging to trivial things.
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君子之行 靜以修身 儉以養德 [군자지행, 정이수신, 검이양덕]
The noble person cultivates the mind and body with equanimity and nurtures virtue through frugality.
非澹泊無以明志 非寧靜無以致遠 [비담박무이명지, 비녕정무이치원]
Only with integrity can you set a lofty ambition, and only with equanimity can you achieve it.
夫學須靜也 才須學也 [부학수정야, 재수학야]
In learning, you must approach it with a calm mind, and talent is acquired through learning.
非學無以廣才 非靜無以成學 [비학이광재 비정무이성학]
Without learning, you cannot broaden your talent; without resolve, you cannot accomplish your studies.
慆慢則不能硏精 險躁則不能理性 [도만칙불능연정 험조칙불능이성]
If you are lazy or arrogant, you cannot grasp true principle; if you are hasty and frivolous, you cannot govern your mind.
年與時馳 志與歲去 遂成枯落 [인여시치 지여세거 수성고락]
Age races with time, and ambition fades with the years, until at last you wither like grass and trees in autumn.
悲嘆窮廬 將復何及也 [비탄궁려 장부하급야]
Even if you then lament and sigh over your own wretchedness, how can it possibly be undone?
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Category: Scrap/Quote
Creator: Zhuge Liang