Those who complain about their background

 　　I've always believed that people who complain about their background, their job, and their circumstances are unambitious. Complaining is different from criticism. Complaining means you don't know where the problem lies, you can only curse and resign yourself to fate. Criticism means you know where the problem lies, who is right and who is wrong, which side to follow, and the resulting conflicts. A critical spirit is a necessary component of becoming an independent thinker, while complaining is a standard feature of the weak.

　　Within criticism, criticizing one's surroundings and one's most personal things is a natural phenomenon. That's why I like writers who criticize and sympathize with those at the bottom of society; nothing is more realistic than this subject. My own passion is humanity, and I admire writers who are passionate about humanity, like Dostoevsky, who is my mentor… Criticism is literature and art, intellectual; complaining is human nature. People in reality are quite dull, while literary figures are incredibly rich.

　　What exactly are people who complain about their background complaining about? They complain about not having good resources, good opportunities, good timing, missing opportunities, missing their prime. All their complaints never involve self-reflection, never reflecting on why they are actually complaining about being mediocre. This is a vicious cycle. The power of the environment is immense. This is why China currently lacks qualified teachers and overall education; everyone relies on self-study, some even keeping their children homeschooled. Poor road conditions lead to everyone driving. Food hygiene is a concern, so everyone cooks for themselves. Moral and public opinion are poor, and public security is weak, forcing everyone to rely on self-defense. Living in China requires mastering a wide range of skills. This is truly frustrating; everyone around us makes life feel incredibly insecure. Take robberies, for example; the victims are mostly working-class women. In rape cases, the victims are often ordinary, conservative working-class girls. They are generally cowardly and don't target the wealthy, powerful, or famous. While there's a saying, "People fear becoming famous, just as pigs fear growing fat," the reality is that those at the bottom of society feel the most insecure. Economically, life is incredibly difficult because production creates little value. Conversely, demand is high, leading to significant consumption. The working class and farmers are the biggest consumers, yet they only receive the cheapest, lowest-quality products. Manufacturers rely on them to clear their discounted inventory. On a safety front, living in a big city often means poor security and little personal safety. Psychologically, the lack of money can lead to a lack of respect, lower self-esteem, and hurt feelings of worth. Marriages are frequently plagued by a lack of communication and constant arguments. Therefore, complaining about one's background is useless; it blinds them to their situation and diminishes their motivation to change it.

　　They choose to live in this terrible environment, enduring contempt and humiliation day after day, pitying their misfortune and angering their lack of resilience. Isn't that right?

　　Those who are critical tend to fare better. They can improve their lives under various favorable conditions. Their lives revolve around seizing opportunities to climb the social ladder, preparing for them, and diligently learning, never giving up hope. They believe life is like a function, with its highs and lows, and they remain humble and resilient.

　　If the teachers are unqualified, they can find a mentor; if the environment is unfavorable, they can create one—can't they just hide away? If education is poor, they can go abroad; if life is difficult, they can work hard; if grades are poor, they can find a mentor and study diligently—grades will eventually improve. This is the power of critical thinking; those who complain will forever remain stagnant, or even worse off.

　　Complaining about one's background seems like a particularly good excuse. It's similar to excuses like "I'm young," "I'm old," or "I'm a woman"—it's laughable. What kind of excuse is it to use physiological phenomena?