“I want people first of all to read the Great Learning to set a pattern, next to read the Discourses to establish a foundation, next to read the Book of Mengzi for stimulation, and next to read the Doctrine of the Mean to find out the subtle points of the ancients. The Great Learning contains definite steps and a regular order. It is a coherent treatise and is easy to understand. It is true that we should first read the Discourses, but its ideas are scattered and it is difficult to read at first. The Book of Mengzi can stimulate and arouse the reader’s mind. The Doctrine of the Mean is difficult. One should read it after having read the three other books.¹”