古之欲明明德于天下者，先治其国；欲治其国者，先齐其家； 欲齐其家者，先修其身；欲修其身者，先正其心；欲正其心者，先诚其意；欲诚其意者，先致其知；致知在格物。
【参考译文】
古代那些想向天下彰显美好德性的人，会先治理好自己的国家；想要治理好自己的国家的人，会先整治好自己的家族；想要整治好自己的家族的人，会先提高自身的修养；想要提高自身修养的人，要先端正自己的心（使它不受物欲、妄念、私情等的干扰）；想要端正自己的心的人，会先使自己的意念真诚；想要使自己意念真诚的人，会先获取相应的知识；获得知识的方法在于推究事物的原理。
The ancients, who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first brought order to their states. Wishing to bring their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first rectified their minds. Wishing to rectify their minds, 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.
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