The Harmony of Study and Reflection: Lessons from Confucius

Dr.Vijayalakshmi Aluri, Winner of World Bank’s Projects competition, Author, Social worker and Gynecologist, Sri Sri Holistic Multi specialty Hospitals, Hyderabad

“Growing up in a small town, I often struggled to understand the value of education. Like many students, I memorized answers for exams, never pausing to think deeply about what I was learning.

My father, a quiet man with a deep love for books, often urged me to read not just for grades but for understanding. I never paid much attention — until one incident changed everything.

One summer afternoon, I was preparing for a history test on ancient Chinese philosophy. I skimmed through Confucian teachings, marking only the “important” points I thought would appear on the test.

My father noticed my hurried reading and sat down beside me. He opened my textbook to a quote by Confucius:

“To study and not to think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous.”

“What does this mean to you?” he asked.