Zeng Guofan is definitely a typical figure of self-cultivation and self-discipline! Liang Qichao, Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek all appreciated this. Chiang Kai-shek paid homage to the Zeng family and thought that Zeng Guofan's lifestyle was "enough for our teachers." He taught the Quotations of Zeng Hubing as a textbook to senior generals, and put the Complete Works of Zeng Wen and Gong Zheng beside the case, and read it all his life. It is said that the way he called the roll and sat in a healthy way all imitated Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan's personal charm is evident.

Zeng Guofan summed up twelve aspects of cultivation: respect, sitting quietly, getting up early, reading books, reading history, being cautious, nourishing qi, keeping in good health, knowing that the sun will die, knowing that the moon will die, writing, and staying indoors at night. He believes that the ancient people's cultivation can have four functions: "being cautious and being kind, respecting and strengthening the body, begging and pleasing others, and being sincere and respecting them." Zeng Guofan did not believe in medicine, monks and witches, immortals, honesty, cleverness, truth and wealth. "Life is poor, know life has no worries."

Character cultivation is helpful to his career. First of all, he is sincere and consistent in appearance, and everything can be made public. The second is respect, awe, no evil thoughts in my heart, dignity and dignity. The third is silence. Mind, qi, spirit and body should be in a state of peace and relaxation. The fourth word is sincerity, no boasting, no lying, no empty talk, truth, one is one, and the other is two. The fifth word remains the same, with regular life, moderate diet and regular daily life. The highest state is "cautious independence", with a god holding his head three feet high. He kept a diary every day, checked and reflected on his words and deeds every day, and in his later life, he constantly put forward more requirements for himself: to be diligent, modest, kind, honest, to know life, to cherish happiness, and so on, in an effort to make himself a saint at that time. Many people think that personality cultivation is an empty thing, and that cultivation is an ethereal thing, even a pedantic thing, but Zeng Guofan's lifelong career and cultivation are the most important reasons for his career success.