Two Sentences from My Elder Brother
Last night the two brothers spoke on the phone. My elder brother said two things that touched me; I record them here:
First, he said that I still have a touch of vanity—I like being respected. This is a flaw, and many of my troubles indeed seem to spring from it. Looking back at the deceptions I have suffered, the losses I have taken, and the hardships I have endured over the years, a considerable part of them arose from this vanity. My late mother often reminded me of this, telling me not to suffer losses from this trait of my character, and my father even more often rebuked me for it without mercy. When all one's family hold this attitude, the fault must lie with me; I should counteract this vanity.
Second, my elder brother believes that my love of medicine is lifelong, and that I should concentrate on medicine and writing, with undivided heart, and not take up other ventures. He says that medicine may at times weary me, but it will never weary of me. After practicing medicine a great deal and growing tired, one feels fatigued; after reading a great deal and growing tired, one feels fatigued too. But however fatigued, once rested, one still loves medicine. Therefore I should patiently abide in poverty, content as long as I can feed my family, and not stir up things outside medicine. This is also very much to the point.
An elder brother is like a father. My brother has always cared deeply for me; though his way is rather too direct, beating about no bushes, what he says is always very much to the point. I am now older, and should take my elder brother's advice to heart, gradually counteract my vanity, and no longer lose myself merely because a few people flatter me. I should be single-minded and devoted to the cause I love, and not stir up other things for money. As long as I invest time and energy, feeding my family will naturally be no problem. Beyond that, prosperity is unnecessary. After all, the great majority of people in this world live only at the level of feeding their families; why must one become wealthy? But in one's own profession one must be diligent and dedicated; without diligence and dedication, feeding one's family becomes a problem.
April 21, 2016