Source: Chapter 20 of The Doctrine of the Mean
Original text (selected):
Be knowledgeable, interrogate, think carefully, distinguish clearly and persist. Yes, Fu Neng of learning, Fu CuO also; There are questions, problems and measures;
Translation:
We should study extensively, ask for knowledge in detail, think carefully, distinguish clearly and practice practically. If you don't learn, you will. You can't stop if you don't study. You can't stop without asking for advice and understanding thoroughly;
Extended data:
Specific explanation:
1, erudition: "erudition" means extensive study, extensive study, that is, there is more knowledge to learn.
2. Interrogation: "Interrogation" is to examine our own lives carefully and ask questions. We have learned all this knowledge, but if we don't understand it, we don't understand it, that is, we haven't learned much. We should study it carefully against what we have learned and make it clear. It's called interrogation.
3. Think carefully: You know everything you have learned, but you should also think carefully. Through careful thinking, your understanding of this thing will have a deeper connotation.
4. Distinguish clearly: "Distinguish clearly" means to divide the knowledge we have learned, the connotation we are thinking about, and which aspect he belongs to, such as knowledge of history and geography, into science and liberal arts according to disciplines.
In the moral sense, there are good and evil, beautiful and ugly, good and bad. What we have learned is clearly distinguished, which is primary, which is secondary, which is yin and which is yang.
5. Dedication: "Dedication" means to carry out wholeheartedly, "choose the good and be stubborn", choose this road to carry out hard, and in the process of implementation, we should be "knowledgeable, inquisitive, thoughtful and discerning", study extensively, think carefully, distinguish carefully, draw inferences from others, do it wholeheartedly and unswervingly.