Quote of the Week: Confucius on Sources of Knowledge

The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the Kingdom, first ordered well their own states.

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. Wishing to 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 of things. Confucius (551-479 B.C.)

• Confucius on Sources of Knowledge, source of the quotation
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