What Can We Learn From The Teachings Of The Ancients In The Wisdom Of The Ancients

Introduction The ancients always held learning and reading in high regard. From Confucius and Mencius to later luminaries like Han Yu and Sima Guang, many served as shining examples of diligence and a love for learning. Famous idioms such as “three breaks of the leather thongs” (referring to the leather cords binding bamboo slips), “stabbing the thigh and hanging the hair,” “catching fireflies and scooping up snow,” or “digging a hole in the wall to steal light” became symbols of a spirit of hardship and diligent study.

The success of the ancients wasn’t just due to their diligence; it was also because they developed valuable methods and experiences. Confucius once said, “A craftsman who wants to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.” Reading is the same: hard work is the foundation, but the right method is the key. The ten points below, distilled from ancient wisdom, will help us unlock the path to effective reading.

1. Have a Lofty Aspiration and a Far-Reaching Ambition Sima Guang, a renowned politician and historian of the Northern Song Dynasty, believed that reading was for the purpose of “achieving the Way and benefiting the people.” He wrote: “Does a scholar read only for fame and profit? One attains a position to practice his principles and to bring benefit to the people. Does the state seek scholars only to grant them titles, bestow salaries, and favor them? It is also to obtain principles that benefit the people.”

Sima Guang believed that learning must transcend personal gain and be directed toward clarifying principles and benefiting the populace. This shows his timeless vision. A true scholar not only accumulates knowledge but must also use that knowledge to serve society.

In the work Zhong Lun, Xu Gan also affirmed: “Aspiration is the teacher of learning; talent is the student of learning.” He emphasized that having talent without a noble ambition makes success difficult. This saying serves as a reminder that a clear goal and motivation are the lighthouses guiding the ship of knowledge. Only when we clarify why we are learning can we persevere through all difficulties.

2. Cultivate Noble Morality Xunzi, a philosopher and educator from the late Warring States period, summarized many valuable views on learning. In Xunzi – Exhortation to Learning, he wrote: “The gentleman learns widely and examines himself daily, and his wisdom will become clear and his actions will be without fault.” He believed that accumulating knowledge was merely a means, and the ultimate goal of learning was to cultivate morality and perfect one’s character.

This is a profound and distinct perspective. Instead of solely valuing knowledge, Xunzi placed morality first. Reading helps us broaden our horizons, but daily self-reflection helps us understand ourselves better, thereby adjusting our behavior and moving toward self-improvement. Thus, learning is not just a journey of external seeking but also a journey of self-discovery and self-refinement.

3. Have the Right Attitude Towards Learning Confucius, the great teacher for all generations, left behind many valuable lessons on the attitude toward learning. He especially valued two virtues: “not being ashamed to ask one’s inferiors” and “learning without satiety.”

Not Being Ashamed to Ask One’s Inferiors: In the Analects, when Zi Gong asked why Kong Wenzi was called “Wen,” Confucius replied: “He was intelligent and loved learning, and was not ashamed to ask his inferiors. Therefore, he was called ‘Wen’.” This shows that humility is a core quality for a learner.

Learning Without Satiety: Confucius said: “Silently remembering, learning without satiety, and teaching others without weariness.” He encouraged us to continuously learn and never be complacent with what we already know.

Attitude is the decisive factor in the effectiveness of learning. Not only the ancients but also modern people can learn this lesson. Humility and a progressive spirit will help us acquire knowledge from everyone, at all times, and in all places, without being limited by personal ego.

4. Make the Most of Your Time Dong Wu, a famous scholar of the Three Kingdoms period, had a very practical view on using time to read. He was famous for his advice, “Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will naturally be understood,” and especially, “Make the most of the three surplus times.” Those three surplus times are: winter is the surplus of the year, night is the surplus of the day, and rainy days are the surplus of time.

This view shows the ancients’ appreciation for every single moment. In our busy lives, many people often use “not having enough time” as an excuse for not reading. However, Dong Wu pointed out that there is never a lack of time; what’s important is whether we know how to use those “surplus times.” This mindset encourages us to turn seemingly useless moments into valuable opportunities for cultivating knowledge.

5. Criteria for Selecting Books Mozi, a philosopher from the Warring States period, proposed “three criteria” for evaluating a work or an idea. The first criterion is “having a basis,” which means it must be based on the deeds of the ancient sages. The second is “having a source,” meaning it must be based on the practices of the people. The third is “having a purpose,” meaning it must bring benefit to the state and the people.

This perspective is highly relevant in today’s age of information explosion. We are faced with countless sources of knowledge, both true and false. Mozi’s criteria give us a smart filter: a good work not only has empty theory but must also have historical basis, be relevant to practice, and most importantly, have practical value, bringing tangible benefits to life.

6. Be Focused, Without Distraction The philosopher Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty was famous for his idea of “three arrivals” in reading: the mind arrives, the eyes arrive, and the mouth arrives. He emphasized: “Among these three arrivals, the mind arriving is the most important.” He believed that if the mind is not focused, even if you read it a thousand or ten thousand times, you won’t remember it for long.

This view is a warning to those who read in a superficial way. In a world full of distractions from social media and phone notifications, keeping one’s mind focused on a book has become more difficult than ever. Zhu Xi teaches us that focus is not just a skill but the key to unlocking the door to knowledge.

7. Put in the Effort to “Explore and Reflect” Confucius once said: “Learning without thinking is confusing; thinking without learning is dangerous.” The relationship between learning and thinking is inseparable. The scholar Xue Xuan of the Ming Dynasty also affirmed: “When reading, one should only be afraid of not exploring and reflecting.”

He advised that when we read a sentence, we must think about its meaning, relate it to ourselves and everything around us to understand it more deeply. This is an incredibly valuable piece of advice. Reading is not a passive act but a dialogue with the author, an active thinking process to transform the knowledge from the book into our own.

8. Combine Learning and Practice Yang Xiong, a philosopher of the Western Han Dynasty, proposed three levels of learning: “One who learns and is able to act is of the highest rank; one who is able to speak is the next rank; one who is able to teach others is the following rank; if one has nothing at all, they are an ordinary person.”

He affirmed that the highest level of learning is not being able to read, speak, or teach, but to act. Theory without practice will forever remain empty theory. Reading is only truly valuable when we know how to apply that knowledge to real life, turning knowledge into action.

9. Read and Exchange Ideas Together Yan Zhitui, a thinker of the Northern and Southern Dynasties period and the author of Yan Family Instructions, emphasized the need for “reading books for mutual exchange and stimulation.” He quoted from the Book of Rites: “Learning alone without friends becomes solitary, and one’s understanding is limited.”

This view shows that learning is not a solitary journey. Discussing, debating, and exchanging ideas with friends will help us broaden our perspectives, clarify what we don’t understand, and thus improve the effectiveness of our learning.

10. Understand Both the Past and the Present Wang Mingsheng, a historian of the Qing Dynasty, emphasized that “the way of scholarship must be understood both in the past and the present.” He believed that scholars who only know the past but not the present, or vice versa, are just “mediocre” or “ignorant.”

A true scholar must be someone who can connect ancient knowledge with modern reality. Reading not only helps us understand the past but also helps us interpret the present and predict the future. Knowledge is only truly valuable when it is placed within the flow of time, illuminated by both the light of the past and the present.