[3]物有本末；事有終始。知所先後則近道矣。 Things have their roots and branches,affairs have their end and beginning. When you know what comes first and what comes last,then you are near the Way. [4]古之欲明明德於天下者、先治其國。 The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states. 欲治其國者先齊其家。 Wanting to govern well their states,they first harmonized their own clans. 欲齊其家者先脩其身。 Wanting to harmonize their own clan,they first cultivated themselves. 欲脩其身者先正其心。 Wanting to cultivate themselves,they first corrected their minds. 欲正其心者先誠其意。 Wanting to correct their minds,they first made their wills sincere. 欲誠其意者先致其知。 Wanting to make their wills sincere,they first extended their knowledge. 致知在格物。 Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things. [5]物格而后知至。 When things are investigated,knowledge is extended. 知至而后意誠。 When knowledge is extended,the will becomes sincere. 意誠而后心正。 When the will is sincere,the mind is correct.[3] 物有本末；事有終始。知所先後則近道矣。 Things have their roots and branches, affairs have their end and beginning. When you know what comes first and what comes last, then you are near the Way. [4] 古之欲明明德於天下者、先治其國。 The ancients who wanted to manifest their bright virtue to all in the world first governed well their own states. 欲治其國者先齊其家。 Wanting to govern well their states, they first harmonized their own clans. 欲齊其家者先脩其身。 Wanting to harmonize their own clan, they first cultivated themselves. 欲脩其身者先正其心。 Wanting to cultivate themselves, they first corrected their minds. 欲正其心者先誠其意。 Wanting to correct their minds, they first made their wills sincere. 欲誠其意者先致其知。 Wanting to make their wills sincere, they first extended their knowledge. 致知在格物。 Extension of knowledge consists of the investigation of things. [5] 物格而后知至。 When things are investigated, knowledge is extended. 知至而后意誠。 When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere. 意誠而后心正。 When the will is sincere, the mind is correct