One must have ambition in life.

Author: Ma Yinchun
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Publish Date: 2006-09-01
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7. Confidence is the most powerful fuel for life. Confidence is the secret of success. — Emerson.
Chairman Mao once wrote a poem: “With confidence in life’s journey of two hundred years, I will ride the waves and cross three thousand miles.” Confidence is the secret of success in one’s career. Liang Qichao also said: “Those who undertake great tasks in the world cannot lack confidence. When looking at every matter clearly and feeling confident, they must pursue it with the courage to move forward unhesitatingly and maintain it with the perseverance to endure countless setbacks. Even if a thousand mountains and rivers collapse at once, they remain unfazed. Even if furious waves surge beneath their feet, they do not alter their composure.” From this, we can see how important confidence is for those with ambitions to achieve great things. As human society develops, people’s self-awareness of their existence and their role in transforming society increasingly demonstrate immense power. Confidence and self-assurance become the prerequisites for success.
Emperor Xuanyuan was inspired by the rolling of grass bundles in the wind to invent the wheel; Yu the Great passed by his home three times without entering to lead the people in managing waterways; the unyielding spirit of Yu the Foolish Old Man in moving mountains embodies the powerful confidence and belief in challenging nature to achieve success. None of the great figures of ancient times who achieved remarkable feats were cowards lacking in confidence. The Qin and Han emperors, as well as the Tang and Song emperors, fully demonstrated the confidence of the chosen ones of heaven. Li He wrote a poem about the Qin Emperor’s arrogant demeanor: “The Qin Emperor rides a tiger across the eight poles of the earth, sword light shining into the sky, making the heavens as blue as jade.” Lu Lun described the composed and formidable aura of General Li Guang: “In the dark forest, the grass trembles in the wind. The general draws his bow at night, and at dawn, he searches for the white feather, which is buried in the stone ridge.” Although the Qin Emperor and Li Guang were not of the same historical type, they both possessed the confidence to turn the tide and right the ship in their outstanding achievements in Chinese history.
To possess confidence, one must improve self-evaluation and have a correct understanding of oneself. Li Bai wrote in Drinking Alone by Moonlight: “Heavenly gifts me a talent, surely it will be useful.” This means that my birth into the world must be needed, and I can fulfill a beneficial role in it, even making certain contributions. Some people speak confidently and are full of assurance under smooth conditions, but they become discouraged and weak when faced with adversity, like autumn lotuses beaten by frost. It must be remembered: “To conquer one’s own inferiority and timidity is the best blessing for one’s career.” In adversity, one should “hold the sword of wisdom and wear the armor of patience,” and even more so, one must have confidence and strive with diligence. Those who can achieve great things are always those who trust their own judgment, daring to think and act where others fear to tread. Those who are not afraid of isolation, brave and creative people. As for those who are immersed in petty self-doubt and dare not aspire to excellence, they will naturally die in obscurity, humble and unremarkable. Ordinary people, because they fail to realize the “divine potential” sleeping within them and fail to awaken it, lose the confidence of being heroes and geniuses, and content themselves with mediocrity. Heroes and great figures, however, are different. They have lofty ideals, noble goals, grand wills, strong confidence, and stride forward with their heads held high, always moving forward and upward, unyieldingly persisting in developing their vitality and creating infinite great miracles.