Tolerance and Freedom - Speeches by Hu Shih

Author: Hu Shi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: Thoughts must depend on the environment and arise from it. When the environment changes, thoughts must also change. Regardless of any method, if it cannot adapt to new requirements, a new method must emerge, or the previous methods must be harmonized to meet new demands. By identifying the changes in methods, one can trace the threads of thought. Thought is always about carrying forward the past and enlightening the future, following a certain thread, not running around aimlessly without discipline. – Hu Shi
I often think: the meaning of life lies in how we perceive it—the size and depth of its meaning depend entirely on how we use our hands and minds. Life is short, even the longest life is no more than a hundred years, and there are only a few decades when one can fully engage in actions with hands and brains. However, some people see life as a dream, a very short one. Others say life is merely a soap bubble. In fact, even the most pessimistic view confirms what I said earlier: whether life has meaning depends entirely on our perspective on it. Even if it is a dream, it should be a lively and grand one, not a pessimistic one. – Hu Shi
Therefore, scientists seek truth. Although Zhuangzi once said, "Our lives are finite, but knowledge is infinite. To chase infinity with finitude is perilous," we still strive upward. Every bit gained is a bit earned, every inch advanced is an inch achieved. One can experience the joy of Archimedes' discovery of buoyancy when he shouted "Eureka!" With this spirit, one will not be disappointed. Thus, the meaning of life depends entirely on your own work. If you want it to be round, it will be round; if you want it to be square, it will be square—it will have meaning. Because truth is boundless, so is the joy of life, and the joy of progress is also boundless. – Hu Shi
Hu Shi, one of the advocates of the May Fourth Literary Revolution, was listed by the U.S. magazine Prospect as one of the 100 most influential figures in the world today. Hu Shi wrote extensively throughout his life, with specialized works in philosophy, literature, and history. His thoughts were not only expressed in his writings but also in his speeches. His voice left behind a clear trail of his thought and spirit. In this book, the editor has selected speeches from Hu Shi's life, providing a reference for understanding this great modern thinker of China. Although some expressions and words in the book may no longer suit today's social context, to adhere to historical objectivity, the editor has strived to preserve the original form of the speeches. This aims to provide value for students, scholars, and general readers engaged in cultural and intellectual research and cultural history, as well as to help them understand the author's thoughts and cultural concerns.