| | Those who are good at citing the past apply it to the present; those skilled in strategies for distant goals examine them through nearby matters. Therefore, those who speak of affairs cite the achievements of the Five Emperors above and reflect on them in themselves; they list below the failures of Jie and Zhou and take warnings for themselves. In this way, their virtue can match that of the sun and moon, and their conduct can harmonize with divine spirits. They ascend to lofty heights and reach distant horizons, penetrate the profound and fathom the hidden. When listened to, there is no sound; when observed, there is no form. The people of the world cannot perceive its omens or know its essence. By examining and cultivating the fundamentals and details of the Five Classics and distinguishing true from false morality, one may grasp their meaning yet not see the person himself.
|
