When a person has a great ideal, even in the most difficult times, they will feel happiness.

This famous saying comes from the renowned Chinese educator Xu Teli. As Mao Zedong's teacher, Xu Teli dedicated his life to education and experienced the long revolutionary journey from the late Qing Dynasty to the establishment of New China. He persisted in his educational ideals during the arduous revolutionary years, and this saying reflects his profound understanding of ideals and beliefs. Xu Teli himself was a practitioner of this saying. During the most difficult periods of the revolution, he continued to establish schools and educate people, never abandoning his pursuit of educational ideals even under extremely poor material conditions.

This famous saying profoundly reveals the importance of ideals and beliefs in life. Great ideals can give life direction and purpose, and even in the most difficult times, this spiritual support can help people maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. Ideals are not empty slogans but inner spiritual pillars. When a person truly possesses lofty ideals, they will regard difficulties as necessary paths to achieving their ideals and challenges as opportunities for growth. This spiritual realm transcends the limitations of material conditions, allowing people to feel inner fulfillment and happiness even in adversity. Through this saying, Xu Teli tells us that true happiness does not come from external material enjoyment but from the inner spiritual pursuit and the process of realizing ideals.

The exact origin story of this famous saying is difficult to verify, but based on Xu Teli's life experiences, it can be inferred that it may have originated during his teaching career in Yan'an. In 1937, Xu Teli was already 60 years old, but he still persisted in establishing schools and educating people in the difficult environment of Yan'an. At that time, material conditions in Yan'an were extremely challenging, but Xu Teli and his colleagues threw themselves into educational work with great enthusiasm. It is said that once, a student asked Xu Teli: "Under such difficult conditions, why can you still maintain such an optimistic attitude?" After pondering for a moment, Xu Teli uttered this famous saying. He used his personal experience to tell students that true happiness comes from the pursuit of ideals, not from superior material conditions. Although this story cannot be fully verified, it vividly reflects Xu Teli's educational philosophy and attitude toward life.

This famous saying has had a profound impact on modern Chinese educational thought. It has been included in various educational collections and quotation books, becoming a spiritual force that inspires countless educators. In educational practices after the founding of New China, this saying was widely quoted to emphasize the importance of ideal and belief education. It helped shape the characteristic of Chinese education that values spiritual cultivation and emphasizes the pursuit of ideals. Xu Teli's saying also influenced the educational thoughts of revolutionary leaders like Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong highly praised Xu Teli's educational contributions, calling him a model of "revolution first, work first, others first." To this day, this saying still holds an important position in Chinese education and is used as a spiritual weapon to inspire students to establish great ideals and overcome difficulties.

To apply the wisdom of this famous saying to practical life, you can follow these practical guidelines: First, clarify your core values and life ideals. Take time to think about what is truly important to you and establish clear life goals. Second, break down big ideals into achievable small goals. Great ideals need to be realized through specific action plans, and setting阶段性 goals helps maintain motivation. Third, cultivate a positive mindset and stress resistance. When encountering difficulties, remind yourself that this is a necessary path to achieving your ideals and look for growth opportunities within them. Fourth, establish a support system. Communicate with like-minded people, encourage and support each other, and pursue ideals together. Finally, regularly reflect and adjust. Ideals are not immutable; adjust the direction and methods of pursuit according to the actual situation. Remember, happiness does not lie in avoiding difficulties but in finding meaning and value in the process of overcoming them.