There is a person in Chinese history who came from a rural family but eventually became one of the most influential figures in Chinese history.


After ten years of entering the officialdom, he moved seven times and was promoted ten levels in a row. He was granted the title of First Class Duke of Yi Yong, becoming the first person in the entire Qing Dynasty to be granted the title of Marquis of Wu as a literary figure. He escaped unscathed in the harsh and dramatic political environment of the late Qing Dynasty, and at the time of his death, he was granted the highest privilege of a state funeral by the Qing court, allowing his descendants to receive blessings.


This person is Zeng Guofan. Mao Zedong once said, "Give to the people of the present, and submit to Duke Zeng Wenzheng alone." Zhao Pu, the prime minister of the Song Dynasty, once said, "Half of the Analects governs the world. The half of Zeng Guofan's family letters are also enough to help each and every one of us cultivate ourselves, unify our families, govern the country, and pacify the world.


 ................. Completely.............



Throughout Zeng Guofan's life experience, his way of being a person and doing things is reflected in these nine words: do not delay, do not speak too much, and do not act.

One thing without delay: nothing is difficult with diligence in the world


Zeng Guofan said:




All the talented people of ancient and modern times in the world are defeated by the word 'proud'; All mediocre people in the world, both ancient and modern, are defeated by the word 'laziness'.

A hundred diseases arise from laziness.

Abstain from arrogance and laziness, the way to maintain one's family.

Most people live a mediocre life simply because of laziness. Mei Lanfang initially had mediocre qualifications, but he was unwilling to do so. He studied hard and practiced diligently, eventually becoming a master.


The future I want is to have An................. Completely.............



Mediocre people are defeated by laziness, while geniuses are defeated by arrogance. Li Zicheng was brave and talented. He rose up in rebellion and declared himself king, but his victory bred pride and ultimately led to a disastrous defeat.


When Zeng Guofan was in the military, he required himself to wake up early. Regardless of the weather or environment, he would always "dance to the sound of the rooster", train and supervise troops, and handle various affairs.


Zeng Guofan said to the soldiers in the army:


The way of military training requires officials to engage in it day and night, so that it can gradually mature. It is like a chicken incubating its eggs, like an alchemy furnace, and cannot be separated for a moment


Words are not as good as deeds. This is how Zeng Guofan influenced his staff and generals. Whether it's personal cultivation or team management, this is crucial to set a good example for those around you and your subordinates.


Zeng Guofan writes a diary every day, which helps him cultivate himself and reflect on his shortcomings in interpersonal relationships. He also stipulated that he must read no less than ten pages of history every day and write for no less than half an hour after meals. Zeng Guofan said:


The temperament of a person, due to their innate nature, is difficult to change, but only reading can change their temperament


Zeng Guofan also had a good habit of writing family letters: it is said that Zeng Guofan wrote no less than 253 family letters in 1861 alone, constantly guiding and educating his younger brothers and children through writing letters. Under Zeng Guofan's words and deeds, the descendants of the Zeng family produced many talents.


All mediocre people in the world, both ancient and modern, are defeated by the word 'laziness' To govern laziness with diligence, and to govern mediocrity with diligence, whether it is cultivating oneself and self-discipline, or dealing with people, there is nothing difficult with diligence in the world.


2 Words Not Much: The First Class Skill of Dealing with People


A sharp tongue may not necessarily be a good thing, but keeping some words is also a state of mind.


When speaking, you need to leave room for yourself and not put yourself in a situation where you cannot attack or retreat. A person who is tense and talkative is often shallow, vulgar, lacking in manners, and unpopular.


Zeng Guofan said:


Focus on the big picture, approach the small details, gather in groups to guard the mouth, and live alone to guard the heart; Do not act recklessly, do not speak recklessly; Ban big words to be pragmatic.


In life, insightful and valuable insights are welcomed, while vague empty talk is disliked. Zeng Guofan's "refrain from speaking too much" originated from a small incident. At that time, he had just entered the Hanlin Academy and was feeling proud. One time, while celebrating his father's birthday, he boasted to his friend Zheng Xiaoshan, who came to congratulate him. He was somewhat arrogant and forgot himself, which caused Zheng Xiaoshan to dislike him and leave.


Afterwards, Zeng Guofan regretted deeply and reflected on his three major mistakes in his diary. One is to be self righteous in ordinary times; Secondly, those who speak without opening the door and say whatever they want; The third is to argue forcefully with someone, even to the point of being inhumane, despite clearly offending them with their words. To summarize these three points, Zeng Guofan said that as a standard Confucian intellectual, he couldn't even understand the principle of "bad words don't come out of his mouth, and angry words don't reflect on himself" in the Book of Rites. He couldn't even pass the language barrier. What could he have accomplished?


To... to... to... to... to An................. Completely.............



Zeng Guofan devoted his entire life to the practice of "abstaining from excessive speech". He not only frequently criticized himself for his "daily language mistakes, what a ridiculous situation!" but also frequently asked himself, "Speaking too much and joking, yet not from sincerity in his heart." This habit of speech and personal flaw, "when can this root be removed?" He not only demanded of himself the practice of "abstaining from excessive speech", but also regarded it as a very important piece of family wisdom, especially repeatedly instilling and emphasizing it to his two sons and several younger brothers.


As the saying goes, 'One should not speak nonsense when establishing oneself.' The most important thing to avoid when establishing oneself is frivolity and complacency, which can lead to saying inappropriate things or lying and bragging for the sake of self promotion. Because in this way, it may bring disaster to oneself and also lose the trust and respect of others. People who like to show off their quick talk are unlikely to achieve great things in the end.

Three people don't do it: there are wise people, and there is a limit to the area


Not doing it means grasping the 'degree'. In the family motto of Zeng Guofan, there is a saying that arrogance is considered a sign of bad virtue, while laziness is considered a sign of decline. Both of them are ways of losing their families. Being lazy is better than waking up early. To avoid arrogance is to walk more and sit less in a sedan chair. This move can be described as a blessing that cannot be taken lightly.


In dealing with people, one should never act rashly and strike directly at everything, and should have a balance.


Throughout history, there have been many talented individuals who have been demoted and lost their lives due to their work. For example, in Water Margin, when Niu Er faced Yang Zhi, he called out to come and attack me! The result was a fatal blow! Perhaps, sometimes blindly going straight and forward may seem loyal and passionate, but if one can judge the situation and weigh it for a moment, they will find that in certain situations, the relative softness and retreat can also be another form of wisdom.


The humiliation of Han Xin's crotch and Su Wu's reckless consumption of blood and wool were the result of weighing the small humiliation against the big festival and taking a step back; Dongfang Shuo's wit and humor, Chunqiu Yanzi's clever and witty words, are the roundabout talents after weighing frank and gentle words, while Wei Zheng's resolute acceptance of advice and Di Renjie's honest and straightforward expression are the radical generosity after weighing the monarch's heart and public opinion.


Whether it's using retreat as a means of advancement, roundabout or radical generosity, using the right timing is a good remedy, using the wrong timing is a deadly weapon, and the balance between them really needs to be personally weighed by the user to strike it right.

Li Mi'an once said in "Half a Song": "Drinking alcohol halfway through is just right, and when the flowers bloom halfway through, they tend to be more beautiful." Drinking until slightly drunk, and when the flowers bloom halfway through, it is just the right amount of fun, revealing the true essence of life, communication, and social interaction. Mr. Lin Yutang also commented that this poem is the most sound ideal life that the Chinese people have found.