「与其为数顷无源之塘水，不若为数尺有源之井水，生意不穷。」时先生在塘边坐，傍有井，故以之喻学云。
「与其做几顷无源的池塘水，不如做几尺有源的井水，生机不会穷尽。」当时先生正坐在池塘边，旁边有口井，所以拿它来比喻为学。
'Better a few feet of well water with a spring than acres of pond water without one — its life is inexhaustible.' The Master was sitting by a pond with a well alongside, and used this as a figure for learning.