From "The Great Learning" by Zeng Zi during the Spring and Autumn Period.
The original text is: The way of a university lies in clear virtue, in being close to the people, and in striving for perfection. Knowing that there is stillness can lead to concentration, concentration can lead to tranquility, tranquility can lead to tranquility, tranquility can lead to worry, and worry can lead to gain. Things have a beginning and an end, and things have an end and a beginning. If you know the order of things, you will be able to take the shortcut.
Interpretation: The principle of university is to highlight the bright virtues inherent in everyone, and then extend it to others, so that everyone can eliminate pollution and renew themselves, and strive for excellence to achieve the most perfect position and remains unchanged.
Only when you know the state you should reach can you have firm ambitions; only when you have firm ambitions can you be calm and not impatient; only by being calm and not impatient can you have peace of mind; only by having peace of mind can you think carefully; only by thinking carefully can you gain something. Everything has roots and branches, everything has a beginning and an end. If you understand this fundamental truth, you will be close to the law of development of things.
Extended information
"The Great Learning" is a prose that discusses the Confucian thought of self-cultivation and governing the country to bring peace to the world. It was originally the 42nd chapter of "The Book of Rites of Xiao Dai" and is said to have been written by Zeng Zi , is actually a Confucian work of the Qin and Han Dynasties. It is an important work discussing educational theory in ancient China.
After Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi of the Northern Song Dynasty tried their best to respect it, Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty also wrote "Great Learning Chapters", which was eventually called the "Four Books" together with "The Doctrine of the Mean", "The Analects of Confucius" and "Mencius". After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, "The Great Learning" became the official school textbook and a required reading for imperial examinations, which had a great impact on ancient Chinese education.