Stories from Ancient China: There is an Infinite Amount of Knowledge; Arrogance is the Only Limitation

There was once a person named Xue Tan who studied singing with Qin Qing in ancient China. After a period of study, he asked to return home because he thought he had learnt all he could from Qin Qing. However, Xue Tan was deeply mistaken.

Qin Qing was not angry, nor did he stop Xue Tan. Instead, Qin Qing provided a farewell banquet for him in the suburbs. At the banquet Qin Qing sang mournful songs for him. The songs were so fantastic that the nearby woods were moved, and the clouds seemingly stopped and listened.

Xue Tan felt deeply ashamed. He realised that he had been arrogant and that he still had a long way to go to understand the many profound skills of Qin Qing. Therefore, he apologised to his teacher and asked to stay for further study. Thereafter, he never dared to ask to return home again.

In fact, regardless of whether it is art, achievement of skills, cultivation, or knowledge, everything is infinite for humans. Self-satisfaction and arrogance will only restrict and limit a person, and they will make him unable to move forward. Only with an eternally modest and respectful heart can one achieve his goal in study. Those who are really capable do not need to boast; people will see their abilities. On the contrary, those who are arrogant and boastful are always unworthy of their names or titles.