To cultivate their talents famous figures of the era devoted great portions of their time and energy to studying literature, music, chess, calligraphy and painting. They made cultivating an aura of talent as their aim in life. It was the source of their self-esteem.
「才是盟主，學是輔佐」，張蓓蓓指出，魏晉名士為了具有才性，拚命努力學習琴棋書畫、詩書禮樂，他們以才氣作為人生追求，從中得到自我滿足，只怕自己墮入俗知俗見。