【文言】(Classical Chinese)

上古贤明君王的教化，其荣耀莫过于行孝，其显达莫过于尽忠。尽忠和行孝是身为国君和身为父母的人非常渴望得到的东西。显达和荣耀是身为儿子和身为臣子的人非常愿意得到的东西。然而身为国君和身为父母的人得不到他们渴望得到的东西。身为儿子和身为臣子的人得不到他们愿意得到的东西，这是由他们不明白道德规范和行事准则所引起的。不明白道德规范和行事准则又由他们不愿意学习所引起的。从师学习者，如果老师通晓道德规范和行事准则，而自己又有才能，我没有听说过这样的人不能成为圣人的。只要圣人存在的地方，那么天下就能治理好。如果圣人在这个诸侯国，那么这个诸侯国在天下的地位分量就重。因此，古代德才超群达到最高境界的君王必定尊敬老师。

Talking about the ancient sagacious rulers’ cultivation, there is no honor superior to practicing filial piety and there is no eminence superior to practicing loyalty. Practicing loyalty and (practicing) filial piety are what rulers and parents greatly desire to secure, while eminence and honor are what sons and officials would much like to obtain. Nevertheless, that rulers and parents cannot secure what they desire to, sons and officials cannot obtain what they would like to are caused by their being unable to know norm of morality and code of conduct. That they are unable to know norm of morality and code of conduct is bred by their being reluctant to learn. Suppose disciples’ masters thoroughly understand norm of morality and the disciples are of abilities, I have never heard that such persons cannot become saints. Where there live saints, there are possibilities that the country can be well governed. Suppose there lives a saint in this state, this state’s status is high in the world; suppose there lives a saint in that state, that state’s status is high in the world. Therefore, the ancient rulers whose virtues were paramount to the utmost were sure to hold masters in esteem.