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The ideal life should be to set a goal first, and then plan the corresponding path accordingly. However, the reality is often that the path of life has already been planned, but the purpose has not been found yet. Because before determining the purpose of life, we need to take a walk, survey the surrounding environment and topography, experience life, and gain life experience before making decisions. Therefore, the purpose of our life is often determined by the paths we have taken. However, we do not have many choices of paths. These paths have already been set and limited by history, society, family, and various conditions. So we don't have much freedom, we can only helplessly move forward on the path that has been planned by our elders and society. Many people take the direction of extending the path as the purpose of their own life, rather than determining the direction of the path based on the purpose of life. Such people will live a happy and smooth life. If you unfortunately have a different purpose but don't have the courage to leave the crowd and find your own direction, then you will feel pain and eventually finish your life with regrets.
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When thinking about the purpose of life, I remembered the words of two people. One is Wang Xiaobo, who said, "I live in this world, just wanting to understand some truths and encounter interesting things. If I can achieve my wish, my life will be considered successful." The other is Confucius, who said, "In the morning, hear the Way; in the evening, die content." In fact, they are talking about the same thing, making understanding some truths (hearing the Way) as their purpose in life. It's just that Xiaobo said it simply and modestly, while Confucius said it artistically and boldly. Another more high-end and well-known saying is the pursuit of truth. According to Xiaobo's words, when this is said by a scientist, we think it's normal, but when it's said by an ordinary person, it seems a bit crazy. So as an ordinary person, I prefer Xiaobo's statement.
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When studying advanced mathematics in college, I always felt that real numbers were obscure and couldn't feel at ease without understanding their structure. So I plunged into it, collecting various relevant theories, tracing back to the origins layer by layer, and finally got stuck on a theorem in set theory, unable to understand it no matter what. This world is vast and boundless, but I am trapped in a grain of sand and unable to move forward, deeply experiencing a sense of powerlessness and my own stupidity. The road of life is always scattered with clusters of fog and swamps. People need to realize soberly that their abilities are limited and it is impossible to dispel all the fog and drain every swamp. They should remember what their purpose is, rather than crazily struggling with every cluster of fog and every swamp.
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Life without purpose is aimless and of low value for money, but a life with too strong a purpose is like a journey focused only on rushing, missing out on many beautiful scenery.
After removing the sense of humor, I have come to a conclusion from the past years, that is, when living in the world, one must not deviate; and one must make some effort to keep oneself on the rational track. - Wang Xiaobo
The true path is on a tightrope, not stretched high, but close to the ground. It is more like a stumbling block than a path for people to walk on. - Franz Kafka
It is not easy to cross the edge of a knife; therefore, wise men say that the path to salvation is difficult. ("The Book of Gatho-Ori" by W. Somerset Maugham) - a sentence on the title page of "The Razor's Edge"