A famous saying that emphasizes both grades and character

The famous saying that emphasizes the balance between personal achievement and moral cultivation emphasizes the importance of having both virtue and ability, cultivating people with moral character, integrating knowledge and action, carrying things with great virtue, and cultivating oneself and one's family. These famous sayings reflect the emphasis of Chinese culture on comprehensive qualities, advocating the pursuit of excellence while maintaining noble character.

One of the core beliefs of Confucianism is that individuals should possess both excellent abilities and noble character. Confucius proposed that a gentleman should not possess weapons, emphasizing that talents should not be limited to professional skills, but should also possess moral cultivation. Sima Guang recorded in the Zizhi Tongjian that talent is the capital of virtue, and virtue is the commander of talent, indicating that morality is the commander-in-chief of talent. This standard is often used in the evaluation system of modern society, requiring talents to not only excel in their professional fields, but also comply with professional ethics and social norms.

2. Moral Education and Talent Cultivation

Moral education and talent cultivation originated from the Book of Rites and universities, and has become the fundamental task of modern Chinese education. This concept advocates that the primary goal of education is to cultivate people's morality, followed by imparting knowledge and skills. Zhu Xi emphasized during his university years that both the emperor and commoners prioritize self-cultivation, reflecting the universal importance of moral cultivation. In contemporary educational practice, schools integrate moral education into the entire process of knowledge transmission through moral education courses, campus culture construction, and other means.

III. Integration of Knowledge and Action

Wang Yangming proposed the theory of integration of knowledge and action, advocating that moral cognition must be unified with practical action. Knowing but not doing is just the unknown, emphasizing that having only moral concepts without putting them into practice is equivalent to not truly understanding. This idea has had a profound impact on later generations. Zeng Guofan often warned his children in his family letters that they should understand the principles when reading and follow the principles of righteousness when doing things. In modern workplaces, it is also advocated to match words with deeds, requiring practitioners to combine professional abilities with professional ethics.

4. Carrying Things with Virtue

The Book of Changes records that the terrain is vast, and a gentleman uses the phrase "carrying things with virtue" to metaphorically describe a person with noble character who can shoulder heavy responsibilities. In ancient times, officials were selected with equal emphasis on performance evaluation and conduct, such as the system of filial piety and integrity in the Han Dynasty. Modern business management also values the moral character of leaders, and Peter Drucker believed that the character of managers determines organizational culture. Many multinational companies have incorporated ethical standards into their employee assessment systems, reflecting the employment standards that emphasize both morality and talent.

Fifth, self-cultivation and family harmony

The university proposes a progressive relationship of self-cultivation, family harmony, governance, and peace of the world, taking personal morality as the foundation for achieving career success. Zeng Guofan emphasized in his family motto that being cautious and independent brings peace of mind, while being respectful leads to physical strength, reflecting the supportive role of moral cultivation in personal development. Contemporary success studies also believe that qualities such as self-discipline and integrity are enduring drivers of career development. In family education, it is often quoted how to sweep the world without sweeping a house, indicating that moral cultivation needs to start from daily small things. The cultivation of comprehensive qualities that balance academic performance and character requires long-term practice. In daily life, reading classic works can enhance moral awareness, participating in volunteer service can exercise empathy, establish self reflection habits, and improve personality. In the workplace, professional norms should be followed, and professional skills should be combined with professional ethics. In the process of education, attention should be paid to the synchronization of knowledge transmission and value guidance, and moral cultivation should be internalized through examples, situational experiences, and other methods. Create a family environment that values virtue and talent, and lead by example to help children establish correct values. Improve the evaluation mechanism that combines morality and talent at the social level, and form a good trend of advocating morality.