The Way of Great Learning consists in manifesting the clear character, renewing the people, and abiding in the highest good.

大學之道，在明明德，在親民，在止於至善。

Knowing what to abide in, one is settled. After being settled, one is able to be tranquil. After being tranquil, one is able to be at ease. After being at ease, one is able to deliberate. After deliberating, one is able to attain [what to abide in].

知止而后有定；定而后能靜；靜而后能安；安而后能慮；慮而后能得。

Things have their roots and their branches; affairs have their ends and their beginnings. To know what is first and what is last will lead one near the Way.

物有本末；事有終始。知所先後，則近道矣。

The ancients who wished to manifest the clear character of all under heaven would first bring order to their states. Wishing to bring order to their states, they would first regulate their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they would first cultivate their own persons. Wishing to cultivate their own persons, they would first rectify their minds. Wishing to rectify their minds, they would first make their wills sincere. Wishing to make their wills sincere, they would first extend their knowledge. The extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things.

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。

Once things are investigated then knowledge is perfected; once knowledge is perfected then the will is sincere; once the will is sincere then the mind is rectified; once the mind is rectified then the person is cultivated; once the person is cultivated then the family is regulated; once the family is regulated then the state is brought to order; once the state is brought to order then all under heaven is at peace.

物格而后知至；知至而后意誠；意誠而后心正；心正而后身修；身修而后家齊；家齊而后國治；國治而后天下平。

From the Son of Heaven down to the common people, all alike must take cultivation of the person as the root (ben 本, the foundation).

自天子以至於庶人，壹是皆以修身為本。

There has never been a case when the root is in disorder and yet the branches are in order. It has never been [successful] when what is of great importance is slightly cared for and what is of slight importance is greatly cared for.

其本亂而末治者否矣，其所厚者薄，而其所薄者厚，未之有也。

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