Zeng Guofan: Don't act willfully, and don't speak willfully
Zeng Guofan, an outstanding politician, military strategist, and writer during the Qing Dynasty, was highly respected by later generations for his words and deeds. He once said, "Do not act willfully, and do not speak with your mouth." This sentence is not only his personal code of words and deeds, but also the embodiment of his philosophy and wisdom in life.
1. Don't act arbitrarily.
Zeng Guofan emphasized that acting should not be arbitrary, which means that when acting, we should not rely only on our own subjective will and emotional impulses, but should think rationally and make prudent decisions. He believes that a person's behavior should be based on objective facts and actual circumstances, rather than subjective assumptions and emotions of the individual.
In Zeng Guofan's view, acting should not be arbitrary, but also means following certain moral norms and ethical guidelines. He advocated Confucianism such as "benevolence", "loyalty", and "respect", believing that a person's behavior should conform to these moral norms in order to win the respect and trust of others.
At the same time, Zeng Guofan also emphasized the decisiveness and execution of actions. He believes that a person's actions should be decisive and swift, without hesitation and procrastination. Only by acting decisively can we seize the opportunity and achieve success.
2. Don't let your mouth go.
Zeng Guofan believes that speaking should not be arbitrary, which means that you should be cautious and moderate when speaking. He advocated that "if you say too much, you will lose" and "be cautious in your words and deeds", and believed that a person's words should be carefully considered, and should not be made at will, so as not to cause unnecessary misunderstanding and trouble.
At the same time, Tsang also emphasized the art and skill of speaking. He believes that a person's speech should be clear, concise, and coherent, so that it can be easily understood by the listener. He also advocated respecting others and listening to their opinions and suggestions when speaking to achieve better communication and exchange results.
3. The enlightenment of Zeng Guofan's words and deeds to modern people.
Zeng Guofan's words and deeds have important enlightenment significance for modern people. First of all, his code of words and deeds reminds us to think rationally, make decisions prudently, and not be swayed by our own subjective wishes and emotional impulses. Second, his code of words and deeds reminds us to follow certain moral norms and ethical guidelines in order to earn the respect and trust of others. Finally, his code of conduct reminds us to speak carefully and in moderation to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and troubles.
In modern society, people face a variety of challenges and pressures, and it is easy to be swayed by emotions to make bad decisions or say inappropriate things. Therefore, Tsang's words and deeds remind us to keep a calm and rational mind in order to deal with various challenges and pressures. At the same time, we should also pay attention to our words and deeds to show our own quality and cultivation.
Tsang's words and deeds are the embodiment of his personal philosophy and wisdom in life. His principles such as "do not act arbitrarily" and "do not speak arbitrarily" are not only his personal rules of words and deeds, but also inspiration and guidance for future generations. In modern society, we can still learn from Zeng Guofan's words and deeds to guide our behavior and speech expression. Only by following these guidelines and putting them into practice can we truly embody a person's quality and cultivation, win the respect and trust of others, and realize the value of one's life.