A reporter once asked a young cowherd in a poverty-stricken area of the northwest, "What do you herd cattle for?" "To make money," he replied. "What do you do with the money?" "To take a wife." "What for do you take a wife?" "To have children." "And what will you do with the children?" "They will herd cattle."
There is another true story: A poor farmer was herding cattle with his two sons. The younger son watched a flock of geese flying in the sky and said, "How nice it would be if we could fly like those geese." The father replied, "As long as you want to fly, you can reach the sky!" The brothers both tried to imitate the geese, but naturally, neither of them could fly.
The father said to them, "You are still young. In the future, with hard work, you will certainly be able to fly!" Later, they did indeed soar into the blue sky. They were the Wright brothers of the United States.
The stark contrast between the protagonists of these two stories stems from the vast difference in their aspirations. People with lofty ambitions often generate spiritual strength and fighting spirit that seem divinely inspired. Failure, setbacks, or temporary difficulties can actually stimulate their immense potential courage, encouraging them to overcome obstacles, conquer themselves, and ultimately achieve success. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln once stated, "The height of the fountain will not exceed its source; a person's achievements will never exceed their ideals." There is also a saying in China: "Aim for the top, and you will achieve the middle; aim for the middle, and you will end up with the bottom." This means that if you set your goals very high, you will often achieve a respectable result; however, if you set your goals modestly and easily achievable, you will likely fall short of your potential.
