Double Color　100 Philosophy Stories to Open the Wisdom of Teenagers

Author: Su Chunli
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Everyone is a treasure trove of wisdom, and everyone possesses immense potential. Research has found that if a person can utilize half of their brain function, they can easily learn 40 languages, memorize an entire encyclopedia, and earn 12 doctorates. Famous psychologist Otto pointed out that the ability a person actually utilizes only accounts for 4% of their total potential. In other words, 96% of human potential remains untapped. For teenagers in the crucial stage of growth, how can we open their windows of wisdom and unleash their hidden great energy? Brilliant philosophical stories are like flickering sparks, lighting the lamp of wisdom in the heart; they are like a golden key, unlocking the door to the treasure trove of wisdom. The earlier one understands, the earlier one steps toward success; the earlier one understands, the earlier one enjoys happiness. Reading this book is like listening to the teachings of wise people, and wisdom, like spring rain, nourishes the heart. I believe every teenager who reads this book will benefit from it. The more you read, the smarter and wiser you become! Small stories contain great wisdom. The earlier you understand the philosophy of life, the earlier you take the first step on the path to success.
The circling caterpillar
A group of caterpillars formed a long line on a tree, with one leading the way, followed by the others. The food was at the tip of the branches. Once the leader found the target and stopped, they all began to enjoy the feast. Someone became very interested in this and conducted an experiment. They placed this group of caterpillars around the edge of a large flower pot, connecting them head to tail to form a circle. The leader caterpillar was also part of the line. The caterpillars started moving, resembling a long parade with no beginning or end. Observers placed some food they loved near the caterpillar line. However, to reach the food, the caterpillars had to see if the leader caterpillar had stopped—their goal. Once the leader stopped, they would disband and no longer move forward. Observers expected the caterpillars to quickly grow tired of this pointless crawling and turn toward the food. But the caterpillars did not do so. Unexpectedly, the leader caterpillar kept following the tail of the caterpillar in front of it, losing its goal. The entire line of caterpillarsled along the edge of the flower pot at the same speed for seven days and nights until they starved to death.
Having a goal gives life meaning
The caterpillar gives us a profound insight: aimless action leads only to destruction. Goals are very important and cannot be ignored; they are the starting point of happiness for all fighters. When we were very young, we saw others walking, talking, reading, riding bicycles, and so on, and we made up our minds to learn these skills too. Although we did not do so consciously, we actually set goals for ourselves. Although achieving these goals is not easy, we still strive to succeed. We enjoy challenges and the excitement that success brings. It is precisely for this reason that we learned to walk, talk, and other seemingly simple and natural things. Goals can even keep people young and happy. Statistics from the United States show that the average age of death for men is two years after retirement. This indicates that if a person works in a job for many years, it becomes an important part of their life. If it is suddenly removed from their life, they may feel as if they have lost the meaning of living or the desire to continue living. As a result, their resistance to disease decreases, and their bodies weaken. An American psychologist discovered an interesting phenomenon in a nursing home for the elderly: whenever holidays or special days, such as wedding anniversaries or birthdays, came around, the mortality rate dropped. Many of them set goals for themselves: to live through another Christmas, another anniversary, another national day, and so on. Once these days passed, their goals and desires were fulfilled, and their will to live weakened, causing the mortality rate to rise immediately. People without a central goal in life are easily troubled by trivial emotions such as worry, fear, frustration, and self-pity. All these emotions are signs of weakness and will lead to unavoidable mistakes, failures, misfortunes, and losses. Because in a world of power expansion, weakness cannot protect oneself. A person should set a goal in their heart and then work to achieve it. They should make this goal the center of their thoughts. This goal may be a spiritual ideal or a worldly pursuit, depending on their nature at the time. But whether it is one or the other, they should concentrate all their mental strength on the goal they have set for themselves. They should regard their goal as the highest task and devote themselves completely to its realization, allowing no fleeting fantasies, desires, or imaginations to lead them astray. If you do not know where you are going, you will not achieve extraordinary success. —John Stuart Mill