古之欲明明德於天下者，先治其國。
In ancient times, one who intended to carry forward all the inherent virtues in the world and to rid them of material desires had to first rule his state well
欲治其國者，先齊其家。欲齊其家者，先修其身。欲修其身者，先正其心。欲正其心者，先誠其意。欲誠其意者，先致其知。致知，在格物。
To rule his state well, he had to first educate his family. To educate his family, he had first to cultivate himself. To cultivate himself, he had first to set his heart right. To set his heart right, he had first to be sincere and honesty. To be sincere and honest, he had first to perfect his knowledge and perfection of his knowledge depended on his investigation of things.
物格，而後知至，知至而後意城，意誠而後心正，心正而後身修，身修而後家齊，家齊而後國治，國治而後天下平。
It is only when one is able to investigate things that knowledge can be perfected. It is only when one’s knowledge is perfect that one can be sincere and honest. It is only when one is honest and sincere that he can set his heart right. It is only when the heart is set right that a man can educate his family. It is only when his family is educated that he can rule the state. It is only when the state is ruled that the world can be governed well.
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