e come across a great many bright and diligent young friends who have done
exceedingly well in their studies, but are rather weak in Chinese. They cannot even write a
letter in correct Chinese. When I asked them why, they said they were not interested in the
Chinese language. Some, though they can write beautifully, detest the study of
mathematics and physics, and barely managed to pass the examinations in them. When I
asked them why, they said they were not interested in them. They cast away whatever
subjects they dislike like something utterly worthless. They are so smug and thick-skinned
that they speak volubly in defence of their own attitude like champions of interest-ism.
They hardly realize that there is no learning but is capable of engendering interest and that
all depends on how to search for it. You will develop a liking for learning if, under the
guidance of a good teacher, you study to discover new horizons opening up before you one
after another by following the proper order and advancing step by step. On the other hand,
you will find learning as dry as sawdust and feel frustrated if you refuse to go into a subject
in depth or even make impetuous advances without following the proper order. People with
an average natural gift are equally capable of mastering the basics of liberal arts and
natural science. They are never predetermined by nature to be good in one subject and poor
in another. It is laziness and waywardness, however, that causes one to give himself up as
hopeless and back down on the pretext of “no interest”.
Primary and secondary school will impart to you only some rudiments of knowledge.
Even what you learn during the four years of university will be something quite superficial
too. A university has often been misleadingly referred to as “the highest seat of learning”,
which sounds as if there were no more learning to speak of beyond it. The research
institute of a university, however, is the place for preliminary scholarship. But even there
you get only the first taste of learning and the emphasis is on research methodology and
practice. Art is long, life is short. That is why some of our ancients continued to study even
when they were hoaryheaded. They were, of course, motivated by an enormous interest in
their studies.
During the preliminary stage of learning, from primary school to college, it is better to
advocate discipline than interest. A properly arranged school curriculum, like a cookbook
on nutritionally well-balanced food, must include all useful and indispensable courses —
courses which are equally important and obligatory. The so-called electives mean only
some little option within the scope of a certain item. A well-educated person is like a
professionally trained Peking opera singer. While undergoing the training, he must observe ↑本↑作↑品↑由↑↑網↑提↑供↑下↑載↑與↑在↑線↑閱↑讀↑
a most exact discipline. He must pay equal attention to singing, acting and acrobatic skills,
and learn to play different roles. It is not until he has finished the all-round training that he
begins to develop his own speciality according to his personal disposition. Laying a solid
foundation for learning will be of great lifelong benefit to you. Of all the school subjects
during the preliminary stage of learning, languages and mathematics are the most
important. Languages serve as a tool for reading and communication. Without a good
knowledge of Chinese, you will find it difficult to express yourself. Without a good
knowledge of a foreign language, you will find it difficult to absorb new knowledge from
abroad. Mathematics makes for logical thinking. Other subjects also have their respective
uses. It is hard to say which is more important. Physical education, for example, is also
extremely important from another point of view. In short, while in school, we should
temporarily put aside our personal liking and patiently observe school discipline so that we
may temper ou