Wisdom from Ancient Writings

Despite my gripes, one of the things I enjoy about my work now is getting to learn from different people, from a variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise. After all, schools are institutions/organisations of learning. At least, that is what they are supposed to be. So just the other day, we had a few university undergrads on attachment with us giving a talk to the students. One of them (who is reading Chinese Language at university in Taiwan) shared the following quote from the Analects of Confucius -

子曰：「學而時習之，不亦說乎？有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎？人不知而不慍，不亦君子乎？」

[Translated: The Master said, "Is it not pleasant to learn [or, to "realise" knowledge] with a constant perseverance and application? Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters? Is he not a man of complete virtue, who feels no discomposure though men may take no note of him?"]

Of the three sentences, the second one is probably better known and I have heard it before. Ironically, having met the trio in its entirety, it was the other two less famous sentences which struck a chord with me.

學而時習之，不亦說乎？- Reminded me of an earlier post in which I said that my favourite subjects were always the most difficult and challenging ones, e.g. it was definitely Physics during my JC years. Whenever there was a homework question I could not solve, I would be unable to fall asleep. I would keep running through the problem in my mind, and sometimes would spring out of bed if I had the slightest hint as to how to unravel the puzzle. What a nerd.

Casting my mind further back, I remember saying that I "wanted to study all my life if possible" because I enjoyed learning. Except back in those days, I didn't really understand the concept of 'academia' - and concluded that it wasn't exactly a 'real job', unlike doctors, lawyers, teachers, policemen, bankers or taxi drivers, who are providing tangible and useful goods and services (and of course, some of those jobs come with very attractive remunerations too). After all, the academics seem to be in their ivory towers, leading very comfy lives, chatting over tea and scones about topics so obscure which nobody else understands or benefits from directly. That's not what I want to do, I'd thought, because it was "too easy to be true", and almost like a "waste of resources".

This brings me to the third sentence - 人不知而不慍，不亦君子乎? - one of a quiet self-confidence from someone who has really found his passion and purpose in life, and who does not rely on external acknowledgements to convince himself that his pursuits are meaningful and worthwhile.

Is that not an important goal of education too? To help people discover themselves and then devote their whole-hearted efforts to strive for excellence towards things they are genuinely passionate about, while exuding that quiet confidence even when not many others may appreciate or think too highly of what they are doing.

Well I suppose for me, that journey has taken nearly 30 years, with some road blocks and detours along the way. Then as one gets older, one keenly realises that there is really limited time, energy and brain-space -- and that one needs to close a few doors at some point, and just be a teeny weeny bit more "selfish" and less "noble" when it comes to making choices.