This is the first sentence in Zhuangzi's Master of Health, which we often use to show: the attitude of learning wholeheartedly and thirst for knowledge.
However, if we read the original text and continue to look down, it turns out that our understanding is all wet. Why do you say that?
The original text is like this:
My life is limited, but so is my knowledge. With restrictions, there is no restriction, and it is almost there! It's almost enough for people who already know!
1 ya: deposit, limit.
2 knowledge (zhiì): knowledge, intelligence.
3 follow: follow and ask.
4 Danger: Danger refers to exhaustion, mental injury and physical exhaustion.
⑤ Already: This, so; This refers to the situation mentioned in the previous sentence. We use our limited life to seek endless knowledge.
The previous sentence says: human life is limited, but knowledge is infinite.
The last sentence says: it will be very tiring to pursue infinite knowledge with limited life; I met with obstacles on my way to knowledge, so I overcame all difficulties with willpower and persisted in exploring. "Almost no" would be more exhausting and futile!
Zhuangzi thinks: Our life is limited, but our knowledge is infinite. Whether your goal is utilitarian or selfless and noble, as long as you strive for it, it is easy to exceed the carrying capacity of your life. As long as you put your limited life into infinite desires, it is "almost impossible".
In this case, our original understanding of the previous sentence is quite different.
When we study ancient prose and quote classics, we often take them out of context according to our own intentions or mainstream views.
In particular, the sentences that persuade people to be kind and enterprising, eager to learn and make progress are often only the first half, and the second half is left behind.
For example: Edison said? Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. In fact, there is another sentence behind? But that one percent inspiration is often more important than ninety-nine percent perspiration.
Similar situations are often because the second half of this sentence is more "mourning" and negative energy, and it is not easy to explain after it is widely circulated, so it is simply removed.
In order to make such things happen less, we should know why and why when learning and quoting the "good sentences" of our predecessors. Be true to the author's original intention and don't lose the opportunity to get in touch with great wisdom.