The Great Learning《大學》
“古之欲明明德於天下者，先治其國；
欲治其國者，先齊其家；欲齊其家者，
先修其身；欲修其身者，先正其心；
欲正其心者，先誠其意；欲誠其意者，
先致其知，致知在格物。”1
”The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge.“1
The Constant Mean《中庸》
“自誠明，謂之性；自明誠，謂之教。
誠則明矣，明則誠矣。唯天下至誠，
為能盡其性；能盡其性，則能盡人之性；
能盡人之性，則能盡物之性；能盡物之性，
則可以贊天地之化育；可以贊天地之化育，
則可以與天地參矣。”2
“When we have intelligence resulting from sincerity, this condition is to be ascribed to nature; when we have sincerity resulting from intelligence, this condition is to be ascribed to instruction. But given the sincerity, and there shall be the intelligence; given the intelligence, and there shall be the sincerity. It is only he who is possessed of the most complete sincerity that can exist under heaven, who can give its full development to his nature. Able to give its full development to his own nature, he can do the same to the nature of other men. Able to give its full development to the nature of other men, he can give their full development to the natures of animals and things. Able to give their full development to the natures of creatures and things, he can assist the transforming and nourishing powers of Heaven and Earth. Able to assist the transforming and nourishing powers of Heaven and Earth, he may with Heaven and Earth form a ternion.”2
Endnotes
[1] Chinese Text Project. The Great Learning.《大學》<http://ctext.org/liji/da-xue>.
English translation by James Legge.
[2] Chinese Text Project. The Constant Mean.《中庸》<http://ctext.org/liji/zhong-yong>.
English translation by James Legge.