Tolerance and Freedom: Hu Shi's Speech

Author: Hu Shih
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: Thought must depend on the environment and arise from it. When the environment changes, thought must also change. Regardless of any method, if it cannot adapt to new requirements, a new method must emerge, or the old methods must be harmonized to meet the new demands. By identifying the changes in methods, one can trace the threads of thought. Thought is about inheriting the past and enlightening the future, following a certain thread, not running around aimlessly without discipline. – Hu Shih
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 we can act with both hands and minds. However, some people see life as a dream, a very short one. Others say life is just like 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, grand dream, not a pessimistic one. – Hu Shih
Therefore, scientists seek truth. Although Zhuangzi once said, "Our lives are finite, but knowledge is infinite. To chase infinity with finitude is perilous," we must still strive upward. Every bit gained is a gain, every inch is an inch. We can experience the joy of Archimedes' discovery of buoyancy when he exclaimed "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 infinite, so is the joy of discovery, and progress brings endless happiness. – Hu Shih
Hu Shih, one of the advocates of the May Fourth Literary Revolution, was listed by the American magazine Prospect as one of the 100 most influential figures in the world today. Hu Shih 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 thoughts and spiritual journey. In this book, the editor has selected speeches from Hu Shih's life. This book holds certain reference value for Hu Shih, a great master of modern Chinese thought. Although some expressions and words in the book may no longer be relevant to today's society, to adhere to historical objectivity, the editor strives to preserve the original form of Hu Shih's speeches, aiming to provide value for students, scholars, and general readers engaged in cultural and intellectual research and the study of cultural history, as well as to help them understand the author's thoughts and cultural concerns.