The sea of learning is boundless, let joy be the boat! - Learning Motto - Pocket Book for Mental Growth

Author: Chen Peng / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The ocean of learning is boundless, but my life is limited, and knowledge is endless. — Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi (c. 369–286 BC), a famous philosopher and writer in the mid-Zhou Dynasty, was a representative figure of Taoism in China. He possessed unique philosophical thoughts and a distinctive style in literary creation. Upon deep reflection on Zhuangzi's quote, "My life is limited, but knowledge is endless," it is often used to inspire learners to "pursue infinite knowledge with a finite life." Upon hearing this, some may feel it is as daunting as the saying, "The ocean of learning is boundless, and hardship is the boat," making one reluctant to embark. Indeed, when visiting bookstores or libraries, we realize that the knowledge we lack is truly vast! Forget a lifetime; two or even three lifetimes would not be enough to learn it all! If we look at the original text, we'll find that Zhuangzi's statement, "My life is limited, but knowledge is endless," is not yet complete! He continues: "To follow the endless with the limited is perilous; to pursue knowledge in this way is perilous indeed!" This means that it is dangerous to pursue infinite knowledge with a finite life. In reality, when it comes to learning, we don't need to scare ourselves. If we take a moment to count the textbooks and vocabulary, we'll find that the content to be mastered is finite! As long as we adopt the right methods and maintain an optimistic and positive attitude, we can certainly learn and master the course material! P4-5