Learn to be a person from Wang Yangming, and learn to take action from Zeng Guofan—this is the essence of ancient wisdom. Wang Yangming, despite a life full of hardships, achieved transcendence through one principle: “The mind remains unmoved.” When he failed the imperial exam, he felt no shame in the failure itself, only in being troubled by it. Facing rebellion, he kept his mind still, like a clear mirror reflecting the enemy’s every move. When falsely accused, he held fast to his conscience, unswayed by external praise or blame. A steady mind brings calm emotions, clear thoughts, and unwavering direction. This is the art of being human.
Zeng Guofan, though slow-witted, succeeded through “great skill appearing clumsy.” He built strong forts and fought steady battles, avoiding clever tactics for solid strategy. When reading, he refused to move on until he fully understood each sentence. In dealing with others, he was honest and sincere, never playing tricks. He believed that the utmost clumsiness can overcome the utmost cleverness. Life offers no shortcuts—only by staying grounded can we reach the stars.
May we, in this restless world, learn these two lessons: keep the mind still, and walk the steady path.