Lines 170-175
Indeed:
170. You boys should keep
this in mind and learn from their example.
Consider: In the days of the Tang dynasty, there was a boy
named Liu
Yan. At the age of seven, he made himself known to
the emperor and so impressed him that he was appointed to an official
post at the royal academy. One day when he was called to see the
emperor, he was asked to show off his learning by being asked how many
Chinese characters are upright. After a moments thought, he replied
that
all characters were upright, except for the character 朋 (peng),
which means "friend". This character, he said, slants to
one side. Seeing beyond the surface of the answer, the emperor
understood that Liu meant by this that the emperor was surrounded by
"friends" who
were not upright and concerned more for their own welfare than for the
good of the empire. This impressed the emperor greatly. Liu Yan went on
to serve four different emperors.
Indeed:
171. In the Tang
dynasty, Liu
Yan, at the age of seven . . .
172. . . . was declared a
child prodigy and appointed to a post at the
royal
academy.
173. Even though he was
so young, he was still an official.
Consider:
Liu Yan did not achieve greatness and the fame that causes us
to
remember him even today without hard work. People cannot become boxers
with constant learning and practice. Women cannot cook well, if they do
not try to learn from others and practice what they learn. There are
tricks to being good at what you do in every walk of life. So it is
with scholarship. Follow the examples I have mentioned and the classic
outlines. You can do as have these others, if only you dedicate
yourselves to the task.
Indeed:
174. You young students,
make the effort and concentrate; . . .
175. . . . those who do
as Liu Yan did will achieve similar results.