The Importance of Reading Classics

It is widely acknowledged that reading the classics is both important and beneficial to the character development and personal growth of the young people. To me, nothing can bring more joy and happiness than reading those masterpieces created by great figures like Confucius and Cao Xueqin. I believe works like The Dream in the Red Chamber and The Legend of Three Kingdoms can drastically elevate one’s aesthetic taste and deepen the understanding of the glorious history of Chinese culture.

However, the modern society is full of temptations. Compared with TV soap operas, sport events, and video games, classical literary works are old fashioned and time consuming. In bookstores, “Fast-food” reading materials are replacing classics, and young writers with sensational and “cool” remarks win the support of a large number of fans.

As the salt of this world, we college students should be fully aware of the important role the classics play in broadening one’s vision. Therefore, we should start reading and studying the treasuries our ancestors left and absorbing the essence of those classical works. We should also advocate to the public the importance of classics so that an increasing number of general people can enjoy the pleasure of reading.