9月9日

《大學》選
撰者不詳
宋 程顥 ( 1032 - 1085 )、程頤 ( 1033 - 1107 )、朱熹 ( 1130 - 1200 ) 等編

大學之道，在明明德(1)，在親民(2)，在止於至善(3)。
知止而後有定，定而後能靜，靜而後能安，安而後能慮，
慮而後能得。物有本末，事有終始，知所先後，則近道矣。

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(4)。物格而後知至，知至而後意誠，意誠而
後心正，心正而後身修，身修而後家齊，家齊而後國治，
國治而後天下平。自天子以至於庶人，壹是(5)皆以修身
為本。其本亂而末治者，否矣。其所厚者薄，而其所薄
者厚(6)，未之有也。此謂知本，此謂知之至也。

所謂誠其意者，毋自欺也。如惡惡臭，如好好色，
此之謂自謙。故君子必慎其獨也。

──選自《大學》

【註】
(1)明明德：弘揚光明正大的品德。
(2)親民：使人棄舊圖新。
(3)止於至善：達到最完善的境界。
(4)格物：認識、研究萬事萬物。
(5)壹是：都是。
(6)厚者薄...薄者厚：該重視的不重視，不該重視的卻加以重視。指不分輕重緩急，本末倒置。

September 9

Great Learning
Edited by Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi, Zhu Xi et al. (1032 - 1085, 1033 - 1107, 1130 - 1200, Song Dynasty)
English translation: James Legge

What the Great Learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious
virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest
excellence. The point where to rest being known, the object
of pursuit is then determined; and, that being determined,
a calm unperturbedness may be attained to. To that calmness
there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose there may
be careful deliberation, and that deliberation will be followed
by the attainment of the desired end. Things have their root
and their branches. Affairs have their end and their beginning.
To know what is first and what is last will lead near to what is
taught in the Great Learning.

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. 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. It cannot be, when the root is neglected,
that what should spring from it will be well ordered. It never
has been the case that what was of great importance has been
slightly cared for, and, at the same time, that what was of
slight importance has been greatly cared for.

What is meant by "making the thoughts sincere" is allowing
no self-deception, as when we hate a bad smell, and as when
we love what is beautiful. This is called self-enjoyment.
Therefore, the superior man must be watchful over himself
when he is alone.

── from Da Xue (Great Learning)