爱曰：「先儒论《六经》，以《春秋》为史。史专记事，恐与《五经》事体终或稍异。」
先生曰：「以事言谓之史，以道言谓之经。事即道，道即事。《春秋》亦经，《五经》亦史。《易》是包牺氏之史，《书》是尧、舜以下史，《礼》、《乐》是三代史。其事同，其道同，安有所谓异？」
徐爱说：「先儒论《六经》，把《春秋》看作史书。史书专记事，恐怕与《五经》的体裁终究稍有不同。」
先生说：「以事来说叫作史，以道来说叫作经。事就是道，道就是事。《春秋》也是经，《五经》也是史。《易》是伏羲氏的史，《书》是尧舜以下的史，《礼》《乐》是三代的史。其中之事相同，其中之道相同，哪有什么不同？」
Xu Ai said: "Earlier scholars classed the Spring and Autumn among the classics as history; history records events, so its genre may slightly differ from the other five classics."
The Master said: "In terms of events it is called history; in terms of the Way, a classic. Events are the Way; the Way is events. The Spring and Autumn is also a classic; the Five Classics are also history. The Changes is the history of Fuxi; the Documents, the history from Yao and Shun on; the Rites and Music, the history of the three dynasties. The events are the same, the Way is the same — where is the difference?"