gulate his family; he who wishes to regulate his family, must first adorn with virtue his own person; he who would adorn with virtue his own person, must first rectify his heart; he who wishes to rectify his heart, must first purify his motives; he who would purify his motives, must first perfect his knowledge: knowledge has for its object the nature of things.
The nature and substance of things first exist, and are afterwards known; if known, the motive will be purified; after the motive is purified the heart will be rectified; the heart being rectified, the person will be adorned with virtue; when the person is adorned with virtue, then the family will be regulated; when the family is regulated, the nation will be governed well; when nations are governed well, under the whole heaven will be tranquillity and happiness.
From the Son of Heaven [the Emperor] down to the humblest peasant—to all equally, the adorning of the person with virtue lies at the foundation.
If the beginning be confusion, to ex-
