Do not idly waste your time, for your youthful hair will turn white in vain, leaving only empty sorrow and regret

This ci-poem was written by Yue Fei during the Southern Song Dynasty's war against the Jurchen Jin dynasty. It expresses his urgent desire to reclaim the Central Plains and establish meritorious achievements, as well as his deep concern about the passage of time. At that time, Yue Fei was leading the Yue Family Army against the Jurchen troops, but the peace faction dominated within the imperial court, hindering the anti-Jin cause. Yue Fei deeply felt that time was running out and his great ambitions were difficult to fulfill.

"Do not idly waste your time" means do not let time slip away through laziness or procrastination; "your youthful hair will turn white" uses the metaphor of black hair turning white to represent the passing of one's prime years; "leaving only empty sorrow and regret" indicates the futility of grief and remorse when it is too late. The entire phrase admonishes people to cherish their youth and strive diligently in a timely manner, rather than waiting until it is too late and being filled with vain sorrow.

According to legend, after achieving victory at Yancheng, Yue Fei was preparing to pursue the retreating enemy and strike directly at the Jin capital of Huanglong Prefecture, but was recalled by twelve golden plaques from the imperial court. On his way back to the capital, passing by the Temple of Marquis Wu (Zhuge Liang) in Nanyang, Yue Fei recalled Zhuge Liang's spirit of "bending one's back to the task until death," and thinking of his own unfulfilled ambitions, was filled with emotion. Thus he wrote this "Man Jiang Hong" that has been passed down through the ages. The line "Do not idly waste your time, for your youthful hair will turn white in vain, leaving only empty sorrow and regret" encapsulates his visceral pain at the passage of time and his urgent desire to achieve great deeds.

Since its creation, this famous saying has inspired countless patriots to strive for their country. From Wen Tianxiang's "Since ancient times, who has not faced death? Let my loyal heart shine in the annals of history" to Lin Zexu's "If it benefits the country, I would risk life and death; how could I avoid it for personal fortune or misfortune," and to countless revolutionary pioneers in modern times, all have taken Yue Fei's spirit as their model. During the Anti-Japanese War, this phrase became a spiritual force inspiring the entire nation's resistance, and to this day remains an important part of patriotic education.

1. Time Management: Set specific daily, weekly, and monthly goals to avoid wasting time. 2. Goal Setting: Break large goals into executable smaller goals and achieve them gradually. 3. Continuous Learning: Use spare time to learn new skills and enhance self-worth. 4. Action-Oriented: Avoid over-planning; take immediate action and adjust in practice. 5. Regular Reflection: Review time usage monthly and adjust strategies timely. 6. Find Role Models: Learn time management methods from successful people, such as Zeng Guofan's "Twelve Daily Lessons."