尔之短处，在言语欠钝讷，举止欠端重，看书不能深入，而作文不能峥嵘。若能从此三事上下一番苦功，进之以猛，持之以恒，不过一二年，自尔精进而不觉。
---清·曾国藩《家训喻纪泽》
/You have some shortcomings: too quick in speech but not solemn enough in manner, unable to go into reading, nor be excellent in writing. If you can work harder at the above 3 things, make rapid progress and never give up, in not more than a year or two you will have shown a very decided advance unconsciously.
--- translated by Clay Mead