18/04/2021
读万卷书不如行万里路。Man who travels far knows more.
Traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books.
In the modern world with a closer link, to experience different cultures and societies is what studying abroad is more about, which may benefit both the individual’s future and the future of the country.
This saying highlights the importance of travelling, which means if one wants to understand people and the world profoundly, travelling is a better way than just reading books directly.
I am strongly for this idea, which is really meaningful and helpful to us. As we know, we gain knowledge from books, and put them into practice finally. Yet most of time, we find that the knowledge of the book is quite different from that of reality. Travelling can tell us the truth, helping us learn the world more clearly. Sometimes, what the books tell us is rather idealized. Not until we experience in person do we realize that the world is not as pure and simple as we think.
As students, we of course should read as much as we can, but meanwhile if possible, we can travel to other places personally, contacting different people, experiencing various cultures, learning different languages. These may not be acquired by reading, but can help us understand the world better and live a better life in the future.
