What does it mean to be calm and not far away unless you are indifferent?

In modern terms, it is "if you don't look down on the immediate fame and fortune, you won't have a clear ambition, and if you don't concentrate on your studies calmly, you won't be able to achieve your lofty goals."

"If you are not indifferent, you will have no ambition. If you are not quiet, you will be far away." From the Book of Commandments written by Zhuge Liang to his 8-year-old son Zhuge Zhan at the age of 54. This is not only a summary of Zhuge Liang's life experience, but also a requirement for his son. Here Zhuge Liang used the sentence pattern of "double negation" and expressed his teaching and infinite expectations for his son in a strong euphemistic tone.

We can see that Zhuge Liang used the "double negation" in "Logic" to emphasize that what he wanted to express was "indifferent and pure, quiet and ambitious". This is a philosophical statement. This is the same as the truth that "if you want to take it, you must follow it first" and "if you want to achieve your goal, you must twist it first". Now "indifference" and "tranquility" seek purity and want to do nothing. On the contrary, you should learn from "Zhi Ming" and set high aspirations. When the time is right, you can "go far" and do something vigorous.

Indifference is an ancient Taoist thought. Lao Tzu once said, "Indifference is the best, and victory is not beauty." Later generations have always inherited and appreciated this artistic conception of "peace of mind". For example, Bai Juyi said in the poem "Ask Qiu Guang" that "the body and mind turn to safety, and the smoke scene is indifferent". He shows that the author is free from distractions, absorbed and comfortable, and is not limited to the long-term broad realm of immediate gains and losses. "If you are not indifferent, you will have no ambition. If you are not quiet, you will be far away."

"The gentleman's trip, static to cultivate one's morality, frugal to cultivate one's morality. Not cold, not awake, not quiet, not far away. If you study quietly, you must study. If you don't study, you won't learn widely. If you have no ambition, you can't succeed. Slow can't be energetic, and crisis can't be cured. " The years go with the times, and the heart goes with the days, so it becomes withered and withered, and it is uncontested. What will happen if they continue to be poor? "