8 《劝学》《荀子》君子曰：学不可以已。青取之于蓝而青于蓝；冰水为之而寒于水。木直中绳 以为轮其曲中规。虽有槁暴不复挺者使之然也。故木受绳则直金就砺则利君子博学而日参省乎己则知明而行无过矣。吾尝终日而思矣不如须臾之所学也；吾尝跂而望矣不如登高之博见也。登高而招臂非加长也而见者远；顺风而呼声非加疾也而闻者彰。假舆马者非利足也而致千里；假舟楫者非能水也而绝江河。君子生非异也善假于物也。积土成山风雨兴焉

"Exhortation to Learning" (Xunzi) The noble person says: Learning should never cease. The color blue is obtained from indigo, yet it is bluer than indigo. Ice is made from water, yet it is colder than water. A straight piece of wood can be made into a wheel, and its curvedness can be measured by a compass. Even if a tree is withered and bent, it can still be straightened. Therefore, when wood is pulled by a rope, it becomes straight. When gold is polished, it becomes valuable. The noble person should engage in extensive learning and reflect on themselves daily, so that they will possess knowledge and clear understanding, and their actions will not go astray. I have spent whole days in contemplation, but it is not as beneficial as even a moment of learning. I have stood on tiptoe to look, but it is not as enlightening as climbing to a high place to gain a broad view. When climbing to a high place and beckoning, my arms do not lengthen, yet I can be seen from afar. When shouting with the wind, my voice does not increase in speed, yet it can be heard clearly. When borrowing a carriage and horse, it is not due to their speed, yet they can travel a thousand miles. When borrowing a boat or oars, it is not due to their ability to swim, yet they can cross rivers and seas. The noble person is not inherently different from others; they just know how to make use of things. Mountains are formed by accumulated soil, and they are shaped by wind and rain. Deep pools are formed by accumulated water, and they are inhabited by dragons. Good deeds accumulate and eventually become virtues, and by doing so, one attains self-enlightenment. Therefore, without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles. Without accumulating small streams, one cannot form rivers and seas. A spirited horse cannot travel ten steps with one leap, but a slow horse can travel ten thousand miles with persistence. If you start to carve and then give up, even rotten wood will not break. If you start to carve and persist, even gold and stone can be chiseled. A worm does not have the benefit of claws and teeth, nor the strength of muscles and bones. It feeds on dust and drinks from the Yellow Springs, yet it achieves its goal with single-minded determination. A crab has six legs and two pincers. Without a snake or eel's burrow, it has nowhere to rely on, showing its restless nature.

"On Teachers" (Han Yu) In ancient times, scholars always had teachers. A teacher is someone who imparts knowledge, guides one's learning, and resolves confusion. No one is born with knowledge, so who can be without confusion? If one is confused and does not seek a teacher, their confusion will never be resolved. Those who were born before me heard about the Way before me, so I follow and learn from them. Those who were born after me also heard about the Way before me, so I follow and learn from them. How can I know who is older or younger than me when it comes to the Way? Therefore, there is no distinction of rank or age in the preservation of the Way; it is the same for both teacher and student. Alas! The transmission of the Way has been neglected for a long time. It is difficult for people to be without confusion. In ancient times, even the sages, who were far superior to ordinary people, still sought teachers and asked for guidance. But in the present day, people who are far inferior to the sages feel ashamed to learn from teachers. Therefore, the sage becomes wiser through interaction with other sages, and the fool becomes more foolish through association with other fools. Are not the sages regarded as sages and the fools regarded as fools because of this? When a parent loves their child, they choose a teacher to educate them. But when it comes to themselves, they feel ashamed to have a teacher and remain confused. The teachers who teach children by giving them books to study are not what I consider as those who transmit the Way and resolve confusion. If one does not understand what they read or remains confused, it is because they either have a teacher who is not capable or they do not have a teacher at all. They have neglected the small learning and left behind the great knowledge. I hav