If the ancient desire is obviously superior to the world, then rule the country first ... If you want to straighten your heart, you must be sincere first. If you want to be sincere, let him know first. -"University"
Part of the translation: ..... If you want to make people's thoughts correct but not evil, you must first make people's thoughts honest; If you want people to be honest, you must first acquire some knowledge.
Self-honesty is nature; Self-knowledge and sincerity are called teaching. Sincerity is clear, and clarity is sincere. -the golden mean
Translation: Being honest and sensible inside is the nature of talents; Because after you understand things clearly, you reach your inner sincerity, which is called acquired educational influence. If you are sincere, you will naturally understand things, and understanding things will also achieve inner honesty.
Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean have reached a unified understanding of the importance of honesty and brightness, but there are differences between them: the former thinks that brightness is the condition (cause) and honesty is the result ("If you want to correct your heart, you must be sincere first; Be sincere and let them know first. " -"University"); The latter thinks that the mind is sincere and reasonable, one comes from talent and the other from education, and regards the two as a parallel relationship.
Talent should be there, but whether it is hereditary or not, I am not a psychologist, so I don't jump to conclusions. I don't believe in "the theory of good nature" or "the theory of evil nature". I tend to Hurlock's "whiteboard theory", that is, when a person is born, his mind is like a blank sheet of paper or a whiteboard. Only by experiencing can he have ideas, which is more in line with the dialectical relationship between thinking and behavior.
When discussing sincerity and understanding, Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean both attach great importance to a special phenomenon-cautious independence.
Zeng Zi said, "What you see with ten eyes and what you point to with ten hands is strict." -"University"
Ceng Zi said, "When a person is alone, it's like having ten eyes looking at him and ten hands pointing at him. How severe and terrible! "
"Poetry" says: "Although you dive, you also realize." Therefore, a gentleman is guilty of introspection and has no evil intentions. What a gentleman can't reach and a villain can't see? -the golden mean
The Book of Songs says: "Even if the fish is hidden deep, it will still be obvious." Therefore, gentlemen often look at themselves in their hearts, so that they will not be negligent, feel guilty and feel guilty. So the reason why people can't surpass gentlemen is probably because they are strict with themselves in these invisible places.
Prudent and independent people firmly believe in a belief: "people are doing, and the sky is watching." Even if you can't see the sky, you can see it yourself. Under the guidance of this concept, no matter whether anyone sees it or not, only do good things and don't do bad things. Because what they do is to "defend themselves"-to protect their conscience and not let it blame them.
People are afraid to break the law easily because they are afraid of being punished by the law; People dare not do things that harm the world, for fear of being condemned by morality and ethics. This has a great normative effect on national stability and social harmony. But as far as its essence is concerned, it is all out of "preventing him" rather than "self-discipline", so it is far from what the ancient sages said.
A virtuous person's life is a life of pursuing sincerity and practical understanding. In the most harmonious society, even if national laws do not exist, morality and ethics do not condemn them, and no one does evil or bad things; Even if you do evil things, the law does not punish you, and morality and ethics do not condemn you, guilty people will make lasting and greater redemption because of their conscience.