初，權謂呂蒙曰：“卿今當塗掌事，不可不學！”蒙辭以軍中多務。權曰：“孤豈欲卿治經為博士邪?但當涉獵，見往事耳。卿言多務，孰若孤？孤常讀書，自以為大有所益。”蒙乃始就學。及魯肅過尋陽，與蒙論議，大驚曰：“卿今者才略，非復吳下阿蒙！”蒙曰：“士別三日，即更刮目相待，大兄何見事之晚乎！”肅遂拜蒙母，結友而別。     

Formerly, Sun Quan said to Nu Meng, "Since you are taking charge of some business, you have to read and learn." Nu used his being busy in the army as a pretext to reject the suggestion. Sun told him, "Do you think I want you to learn Confucius books and become a sage? I only want you to browse something helpful from the past. You said you are busy in the army; are you as busy as I am? But I often read a lot." Thus, Nu started to read. When Lu Su met Nu at Xun Yang, they discussed something serious. Surprised, Lu praised Nu, "You are good at the strategies of military and politics, quite different from the former Nu in Wu!" Nu replied, "A man of lofty ideals would make a difference in just three days, and people would give him a different judgment. You should learn this earlier, Sir." Lu then paid an audience to Nus mother and a leavetaking.