Abai. Book of Words. Word Thirty-One

We can name four means that promote the perception and memorisation of what is heard:

First, you should acquire spiritual firmness and determination; secondly, you should heed wise counsels attentively and with an open heart, eager to grasp the meaning of what is said; thirdly, you should ponder over these wise words and repeat them over and over again so as to imprint them in your memory; fourthly, you should avoid harmful states of the mind and resist them even in the face of temptation. These states of mind are: careless sloth, indifference, senseless amusement, the inclination to morose reflection and destructive passion. These vices can destroy both your mind and your talent.