士德问曰：「『格物』之说，如先生所教，明白简易，人人见得。文公聪明绝世，于此反有未审，何也？」
先生曰：「文公精神气魄大，是他早年合下便要继往开来，故一向只就考索著述上用功。若先切己自修，自然不暇及此。到得德盛后，果忧道之不明。如孔子退修六籍，删繁就简，开示来学，亦大段不费甚考索。文公早岁便著许多书，晚年方悔，是倒做了。」
士德曰：「晚年之悔，如谓：『向来定本之误。』又谓：『虽读得书，何益于吾事？』又谓：『此与守书籍，泥言语，全无交涉。』是他到此方悔从前用功之错，方去切己自修矣。」
曰：「然。此是文公不可及处，他力量大，一悔便转；可惜不久即去世，平日许多错处，皆不及改正。」
士德问：「『格物』之说，像先生所教的这样明白简易，人人都看得懂。朱文公聪明绝世，在这上面反而有不明之处，为什么？」
先生说：「文公精神气魄大，是因为他早年一开始便要继往开来，所以一向只在考索著述上用功。若先切实修养自己，自然顾不上这些。到德行盛大之后，果然忧虑大道不明。比如孔子退而修定六经，删繁就简，开示后来的学者，也大抵不费什么考索。文公早年便著了许多书，晚年才后悔，是颠倒着做了。」
士德说：「晚年的后悔，比如说『从前定本的错误』，又说『虽读了许多书，对我的事有什么益处？』又说『这与死守书本、拘泥言语，全无关系。』可见他到这时才悔悟从前用功之错，才去切实自修。」
先生说：「对。这正是文公不可企及之处，他力量大，一悔便转；可惜不久便去世，平生许多错处都来不及改正。」
Shide asked: 'Your doctrine of investigating things is so clear and simple that everyone can see it. Master Zhu, brilliance beyond the age — how was he unclear here?'
The Master said: 'Zhu's spirit was vast: from his youth he set out to carry on the past and open the future, so all his effort went into research and writing. Had he first cultivated himself in earnest, he would have had no leisure for it. When his virtue was full he did grieve that the Way was dark — as Confucius, withdrawing, edited the six classics, cutting the overgrown to the simple for later students, also without much research. Zhu wrote many books early and repented late: the order was inverted.'
Shide said: 'His late regrets — the old definitive texts were mistaken; what gain was all that reading to my own task; this has nothing to do with guarding books and clinging to words — show that only then did he repent his error and turn to cultivate himself.'
The Master said: 'Yes. That is where Zhu is unmatched: his power was great, one repentance and he turned. A pity he died soon after, leaving many lifetime errors uncorrected.'