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An ideal life should involve setting goals first and then planning the corresponding paths. However, in reality, the situation 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 walk a certain distance, survey the surrounding environment and topography, experience life, gain life experience, and then make decisions. Therefore, the purpose of our life is often determined by the paths we have taken. However, we do not have many options for paths, as most of these paths have already been set and limited by history, society, family, and various conditions. Therefore, we do not have much freedom and can only helplessly move forward on the paths that have been planned by our elders and society. Many people take the direction in which the path extends as the purpose of their life, rather than determining the direction of the path based on the purpose of their life. Such people will live a happy and smooth life. If you unfortunately have a different purpose but do not have the courage to leave the crowd and find your own direction, you will feel pain and eventually live your life with regrets.
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When thinking about the purpose of life, I am reminded of the words of two people. One is Wang Xiaobo, who said, "I live in this world, simply 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) their purpose in life. It's just that Xiaobo said it in a simple and modest way, while Confucius said it in a literary and assertive way. Another more high-end and well-known saying is the pursuit of truth. According to Xiaobo's words, if this is said by a scientist, we would find it normal, but if it is said by an ordinary person, it would seem 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 confused about real numbers. I couldn't feel at ease without understanding its structure, so I delved into it, collecting various relevant theories and tracing them back to their origins. In the end, I got stuck on a theorem in set theory and couldn't understand it no matter what. This world is vast, but I found myself trapped in a grain of sand and unable to move forward, deeply experiencing a sense of powerlessness and my own stupidity. Along the journey of life, there are always clusters of fog and swamps scattered around. 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 instead of going crazy trying to overcome every fog and swamp.
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A life without purpose is aimless and has low cost-effectiveness. However, a life with too much purpose is like a journey focused only on rushing, missing out on many beautiful scenery.
After removing the sense of humor, from the past years, I have come to a conclusion that when living in the world, one must not deviate; and one must put in some effort to keep oneself on the path of rationality. - 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 walking. - 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 Gethsemane") - A quote from the front page of Maugham's "The Razor's Edge"