THE GREAT LEARNINGConfuciusTable of ContentsTHE GREAT LEARNING................................................................................................................................1Confucius.................................................................................................................................................1 THE GREAT LEARNINGiTHE GREAT LEARNINGConfuciusWHAT THE GREAT LEARNING teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and torest in the highest excellence. The point where to rest being known, the object of pursuit is then determined; and, that being determined, acalm unperturbedness may be attained to. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that reposethere 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 firstand 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 ownstates. 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. Wishingto 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 ofthings. Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughtswere sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rect...
