来书云：「谓致知之功，将如何为温凊、如何为奉养即是『诚意』[1]，非别有所谓『格物』，此亦恐非。」
此乃吾子自以己意揣度鄙见而为是说，非鄙人之所以告吾子者矣。若果如吾子之言，宁复有可通乎？
盖鄙人之见，则谓意欲温凊、意欲奉养者，所谓「意」也，而未可谓之「诚意」。必实行其温凊、奉养之意，务求自慊而无自欺，然后谓之「诚意」。
知如何而为温凊之节、知如何而为奉养之宜者，所谓「知」也，而未可谓之「致知」。必致其知如何为温凊之节者之知，而实以之温凊；致其知如何为奉养之宜者之知，而实以之奉养，然后谓之「致知」。
温凊之事、奉养之事，所谓「物」也，而未可谓之「格物」。必其于温凊之事也，一如其良知之所知当如何为温凊之节者而为之，无一毫之不尽；于奉养之事也，一如其良知之所知当如何为奉养之宜者而为之，无一毫之不尽，然后谓之「格物」。
温凊之物格，然后知温凊之良知始致；奉养之物格，然后知奉养之良知始致。故曰：「物格而后知至。」致其知温凊之良知，而后温凊之意始诚；致其知奉养之良知，而后奉养之意始诚。故曰：「知至而后意诚。」此区区「诚意、致知、格物」之说盖如此。吾子更熟思之，将亦无可疑者矣。
来信说：「您说致知的功夫，如怎样去做温凊、怎样去做奉养就是『诚意』，并非另外还有所谓『格物』，这恐怕也不对。」
这是您以己意揣度我的见解而造成的说法，并不是我告诉您的。若真如您所说，还能讲得通吗？
依我的见解：想要温凊、想要奉养，这就是所谓「意」，但还不可以称为「诚意」。必须切实实行温凊奉养之意，务求自我满足而无自欺，然后才叫「诚意」。
知道怎样做温凊的节度、知道怎样做奉养的合宜，这就是所谓「知」，但还不可以称为「致知」。必须致其知道如何温凊之知，而切实用来温凊；致其知道如何奉养之知，而切实用来奉养，然后才叫「致知」。
温凊之事、奉养之事，这就是所谓「物」，但还不可以称为「格物」。必须是在温凊之事上，一如良知所知的当如何温凊之节度那样去做，无一毫不尽；在奉养之事上，一如良知所知的当如何奉养之宜那样去做，无一毫不尽，然后才叫「格物」。
温凊之物格了，然后知温凊的良知才算致；奉养之物格了，然后知奉养的良知才算致。所以说「物格而后知至」。致了知温凊的良知，然后温凊之意才诚；致了知奉养的良知，然后奉养之意才诚。所以说「知至而后意诚」。我的「诚意、致知、格物」之说大概如此。您再细想，也将无可疑了。
Your letter says: 'You make the work of extension such that doing the warming and the support is itself sincerity — no separate investigating things. This too seems wrong.'
That is your own conjecture reshaping my view, not what I told you. As you frame it, would it even parse?
In my view: to intend warming, to intend support — that is intention, not yet sincerity. Only when the intention is actually carried out, seeking self-content without self-deception, is it sincerity.
Knowing the fit measures of warming and support — that is knowledge, not yet extension. Only when the knowledge of the measures is extended and actually applied in warming, and the knowledge of fit support applied in supporting, is it extension.
The affair of warming, the affair of support — those are things, not yet investigation. Only when in warming one does exactly what innate knowledge knows as the fit measure, to the last hair, and in support likewise, is it investigation.
The thing of warming investigated, the innate knowledge of warming is extended; the thing of support investigated, the innate knowledge of support is extended — hence things investigated, then knowledge arrives. The innate knowledge of warming extended, the intention of warming becomes sincere — hence knowledge arrives, then intention is sincere. Such is my doctrine of sincerity, extension and investigation. Think it over and no doubt will remain.
- 或断句为：将如何为温凊、如何为奉养？即是『诚意』