Page 25 - 《大学》中·英对照版

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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. Such
extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of
things.

Things being investigated, knowledge became
complete. Their knowledge being complete, their
thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being
sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their
hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated.
Their persons being cultivated, their families were
regulated. Their families being regulated, their states
were rightly governed. Their states being rightly
governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and
happy. From the Son of Heaven down to the mass
of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the
person the root of everything besides.

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