There is a saying, "Teachers are found everywhere, but only the fortunate become true students".
In other words, it is not easy to find students who are truly capable of acquiring profound knowledge. Very few possess the qualities needed to embrace great wisdom.
Similarly, we might say, "Answers fill the pages, but questions remain miles away." This means that asking the right questions also requires a certain level of competence.
That is why we often fail to form proper questions—they seem distant, hundreds of miles away from our minds. We are afraid to ask questions or simply do not know what to ask.
This is because our reading is limited. Even when we do read, we do not engage in critical reading. We skim through texts, feeling content with a superficial understanding.
Yet, books are one of the most powerful tools for intellectual progress and social revolution. Through books, people can expand their horizons, challenge the very structures of society, and seek paths toward change.
Throughout history, great thinkers have emphasized the importance of questioning societal structures and striving for change through knowledge.
Socrates once said, "An unexamined life is not worth living". It refers that only through deep inquiry into life and society can we attain true wisdom.
Books serve as the primary instrument for this exploration. Reading not only refines an individual’s perspective but also deepens their thinking.
Thereby, the French philosopher Rousseau stated, "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains".
Books can help identify the path to liberation from these chains. Through reading, individuals can free their minds and find solutions to societal problems. In essence, true freedom comes from intellectual depth and awareness.
To achieve this depth, there is no substitute for reading. The driving force behind the French Revolution, the philosopher Voltaire, famously said, "People must be taught to question." This ability to question empowers individuals to resist oppression and injustice. Books are the best means to develop this ability.
Unfortunately, in modern times, the habit of reading is in decline. Most people are drawn to shallow reading and surface-level information, which negatively impacts the depth of their knowledge.
Superficial and fragmented learning makes us "dangerously half-educated". As a result, we fail to grasp and address society's real problems.
If we truly seek social change and the pursuit of truth and knowledge, we must ensure proper education and cultivate a culture of deep reading.
More importantly, to build a just and equal society, we must rekindle our attraction to books. Sadly, with the rise of digital technology, the practice of reading books has significantly diminished.
People now prefer easily accessible information, yet there is a crucial distinction between information and knowledge. Information is merely a description of events, whereas knowledge involves deep understanding and analysis.
The persistent stagnation and dysfunction in our society stem from this issue. Only through deep reading can people develop a critical mindset against exploitation and oppression.
For true societal liberation, this is essential. Books will awaken people's consciousness, show them the way forward, and expand their hearts.
Intellectual capacity should not remain narrow, selfish, or hostile toward others—it should strive for collective progress. However, many distractions are deliberately placed before us to keep us from books, discouraging us from engaging in critical reading.
The hidden agenda behind this is to keep society from progressing. When will we finally recognize this calculated conspiracy?
