If you give up halfway, even rotten wood will not break; if you persevere, even metal and stone can be carved.

This quote comes from Xunzi's "Encouraging Learning" chapter during the Warring States period. It is an important section where Xunzi discusses learning attitudes and methods. Through numerous metaphors and examples, Xunzi elaborates on the importance of learning, methods of learning, and the proper attitude toward learning. This sentence appears in the section discussing how learning requires persistence and perseverance. Xunzi uses carving as a metaphor to illustrate that learning must be pursued continuously with unwavering effort to achieve success.

This famous saying profoundly reveals the importance of persistence and perseverance. The first part "If you carve and then give up, even rotten wood will not break" points out that if you give up halfway through a task, even the most fragile rotten wood cannot be broken, illustrating that lack of perseverance results in failure to accomplish even the simplest tasks. The second part "if you carve persistently, metal and stone can be engraved" emphasizes that with unwavering persistence, even the hardest metal and stone can be successfully carved, demonstrating that with sufficient determination and continuous effort, the most difficult tasks can be accomplished. The entire saying uses contrast to vividly illustrate the power of perseverance.

When Xunzi wrote "Encouraging Learning," it was during the turbulent late Warring States period when various states were seeking ways to strengthen their nations. Xunzi believed that the key to national strength lay in talent cultivation, and talent development required education and learning. He observed that many people at the time lacked persistence in learning, working sporadically without consistency, so he created this famous essay encouraging learning. During the writing process, Xunzi thought of the vivid metaphor of carving: carving requires continuous application of force, and if stopped midway, even rotten wood cannot be broken; but with persistent effort, even the hardest materials like metal and stone can be carved into exquisite patterns. This metaphor was both vivid and profound, resulting in this famous saying that has been passed down through the ages.

This saying has had a profound impact on the history of Chinese education, becoming an important argument used by educators throughout the ages to emphasize learning attitudes. From Dong Zhongshu in the Han Dynasty to Zhu Xi in the Song Dynasty, and then to Wang Yangming in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, all used this saying as an important standard for educating students. During the 1300-year history of China's imperial examination system, this saying inspired countless scholars from humble backgrounds to change their destiny through diligent study. Even in modern society, this saying is still widely quoted, becoming an important spiritual force that motivates students, workers, entrepreneurs, and people from all walks of life. It has also been included in primary and secondary school Chinese textbooks, becoming essential learning content for every Chinese student.

To apply the wisdom of this famous saying to practical life, we can proceed from the following aspects: First, set clear goals. Just as carving requires knowing what to carve, we need clear objectives and directions in learning or work. Second, develop feasible plans. Break large goals into daily and weekly small goals, just as carving requires step-by-step progress. Third, establish supervision mechanisms. Find friends or family to supervise, or use various apps to track your persistence. Fourth, reward yourself promptly. When achieving milestone goals, give yourself appropriate rewards to enhance motivation to continue. Finally, learn from setbacks. When encountering failures, don't give up easily, but analyze the reasons, adjust methods, and continue trying.