Socrates and Ears of Wheat

Three disciples of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once asked their teacher for advice on how to find an ideal partner. Socrates did not give a direct answer, but asked them to walk on the ridge of the field. They were only allowed to move forward, and they were only given one chance. The requirement was to pick the best and largest ear. The first disciple didn't walk a few steps when he saw a big and beautiful ear and picked it off happily. But when he continued to move forward, he found that there were many bigger ones in front of him, but there was no chance, so he had to finish the journey with regret. The second disciple learned his lesson. Whenever he was about to pick something, he always reminded himself that there was a better one behind. But when he was approaching the finish line, he realized that he had missed all the opportunities. The third disciple learned the lessons of the first two disciples. When he walked one third of the way, he was divided into three categories: large, medium and small. When he walked another third, he verified whether it was correct. When he reached the last third, he chose a beautiful ear that belonged to the big category. . Although this ear is not the best and biggest in the field, for him, it is already satisfying.

Applicable themes: Choice, contentment, reflection

Choice? We always have to make a choice when the time is right. If you keep looking forward and backward, you will only miss the opportunity to make a choice.

Contentment? Don’t pursue perfection too much and ignore what is best for you.

Reflection? Learn from other people’s failures and grow through reflection. Catfish effect

Norwegians like to eat sardines, especially live fish. The price of live fish in the market is much higher than that of dead fish. Therefore, fishermen always try their best to get sardines back to the fishing port alive. However, despite all the efforts, most of the sardines still died of suffocation in the process. But there is a fishing boat that can always bring most of the sardines back to the fishing port alive. The captain closely guarded the secret. It wasn't until the captain's death that the mystery was revealed. It turned out that the captain put a catfish whose main food was fish into the fish tank filled with sardines. After the catfish enters the fish tank, it swims around because of the unfamiliar environment. Sardines are very nervous when they see a strange catfish. They are worried that they will be eaten. They dart left and right, avoid in all directions, and swim faster. The problem of sardine hypoxia is easily solved. In this way, the sardines returned to the fishing port alive and kicking. This is the famous "catfish effect".

Purpose: A comfortable environment will eliminate people's motivation to move forward, while appropriate pressure and a sense of crisis will promote progress.

Similar examples

Intel Corporation is a giant in the microprocessor manufacturing industry, with a turnover of US$20.8 billion and a profit of US$5 billion in 1996. As the founder of Intel, Grove was awarded the title of Person of the Year by Time magazine published on December 20, 1997. After this giant in the world's information industry became famous, he attributed his brilliant achievements to the words "survival of the fearful". He said: Only those with a strong sense of fear and crisis can survive.

At the end of the 19th century, scientists at Cornell University in the United States conducted a "boiled frog experiment". When scientists put the frog into boiling water, the frog couldn't stand the sudden high temperature and immediately jumped out of the boiling water and successfully escaped. When researchers put the frog into a container with cold water and then heated it, the results were different. On the contrary, the frog was content in the water because of the comfortable water temperature at the beginning. When the frog found that he couldn't stand the high temperature, he was exhausted and was boiled to death in the hot water unknowingly. Darwin's father

When the famous biologist Darwin was eight years old, his mother died. The greatest influence on him in the family was his father.

Since the age of seven, Darwin has been interested in collecting many dried plants and dead insects. He also collected coins, seals, shells, fossils and many other miscellaneous things. He also likes to do chemical experiments at home. For this he was reprimanded by Dr. Butler, the headmaster of Shrewsbury School, where he attended.

However, old Darwin supported children to have their own interests and hobbies. He gave the child a small shed in the garden to use for chemistry experiments. When Darwin was ten years old, his father also allowed and helped him go to the coast of Wales with a teacher and some classmates for a three-week vacation, where Darwin observed and collected many specimens of marine plants.

Darwin loved fantasy. He claimed that several fossils he collected were priceless treasures and said that a coin was made in Rome. He was thought to be tainted by one of the worst traits of all: lying. His father didn't want to stop him. Old Darwin said: "This shows that this child is imaginative, and one day he will use this talent for serious things." ?

Applicable topics: Encouragement, family education, father's love, interest

Encouragement? His father's encouragement allowed Darwin to continue on the path that interested him.

Family education? A child’s growth path depends largely on the parents’ education methods.

Father’s love? People can’t understand Darwin’s interests and behaviors, but his father will always support and encourage him silently. Father's love is deep, yet as majestic as a mountain.

Interest? Interest is the cornerstone of success. It is precisely because Darwin has been interested in natural organisms since he was a child and has been constantly observing and collecting that he has achieved great success in the field of biology. Grapevine Inspiration

Visit a vineyard dedicated to growing wine grapes.

The grapes in 1994 were the best, the owner said, because the summer was dry that year and the grapes produced were particularly sweet. ?

?Aren’t the grapes afraid of being dried to death? I asked.

?New vines are afraid, but old vines are not. Because the roots of old vines are deeply rooted, they can absorb moisture deep in the soil. The garden owner said, "Also, the vines that have been well pruned are not afraid, but the vines that are allowed to grow are afraid." ?

? Why? I don’t understand.

?Because the more leaves grow and the farther the vines climb, the more water they need. So once I do it, I can't stand it anymore. ?

Grapes must be deeply rooted and pruned frequently to produce sweet fruit.

People must also take deep roots and prune them frequently to achieve true knowledge.

Suitable for topic study, reflection, and learning

It is a good narrative material in itself. With slight adjustments and processing according to different themes, "Visiting a Vineyard" can become a This is the main event of this narrative, and the last two paragraphs are actually the revelations that the event brings to people.

If the theme is "Study", then you only need to emphasize the feature of "Deep Rooting"; if the theme is "Reflection", then you only need to emphasize the feature of "Frequent Pruning". If the theme is "learning", then both characteristics can be involved, and can be extended to other things: if you want to do anything well, you must continue to study and reflect. Selling the Sound of Water

There is a man named Fenike in the United States who has been to many famous mountains and rivers. Once, while traveling, he was attracted by the sound of gurgling water around him. The sound was harmonious and melodious, making him forget to leave. So, he had an idea and used a stereo recorder to record the sounds of flowing water in many creeks, rivers, and small waterfalls. When he returned to the city, he made audio tapes and sold them at a high price, attracting a steady stream of buyers. Fenech profited greatly from this.

Applicable themes: Good at thinking, close to nature, cherishing

Good at thinking? Feinike did not stop thinking while admiring the beautiful scenery, and discovered the business opportunity of selling water sounds.

Getting close to nature? People living in reinforced concrete forests also have a desire to get close to nature. To truly get close to nature is not to listen to a tape of the sound of running water, but to experience nature in person.

Cherish? Don’t let the sound of gurgling water only be stored in audio tapes. It is our duty to cherish and protect nature. Tolstoy's Prodigal Son

In his youth, Leo Tolstoy lived a dissolute life and had some bad habits, such as playing and gambling. But soon, he immediately woke up.

He believed that his dissolute behavior was equivalent to that of an animal, and he was very dissatisfied with himself. He listed the reasons for his mistakes in detail and wrote them in his diary. There were eight points: 1. Lack of perseverance; 2. Deceiving himself; 3. Young and frivolous; 4. Lack of humility; 5. Temper. Too impatient; 6. Life is too indulgent; 7. Too imitative; 8. Lack of reflection. This time of reflection, it was like a thunderbolt hitting him. He was determined to end his dissolute life and correct his bad habits, so he came to the Caucasus with his brother Nikolai, became a junior officer in the artillery team, and embarked on the path of literary creation.

Applicable themes: Reflection, change, start again

Reflection? Reflection can make people realize their own shortcomings and clarify the direction of their progress.

Change? Changing yourself requires great perseverance, but it is never too late to change.

Start over? Give yourself a chance to start over. After starting over, you will meet a better self.