问：「大人与物同体，如何《大学》又说个厚薄？」
先生曰：「惟是道理自有厚薄，比如身是一体，把手足捍头目，岂是偏要薄手足？其道理合如此。禽兽与草木同是爱的，把草木去养禽兽，又忍得；人与禽兽同是爱的，宰禽兽以养亲与供祭祀、燕宾客，心又忍得；至亲与路人同是爱的，如箪食豆羹，得则生，不得则死，不能两全，宁救至亲，不救路人，心又忍得；这是道理合该如此。及至吾身与至亲，更不得分别彼此厚薄。盖以仁民爱物皆从此出，此处可忍，更无所不忍矣。《大学》所谓厚薄，是良知上自然的条理，不可逾越，此便谓之义：顺这个条理，便谓之礼；知此条理，便谓之智；终始是这条理，便谓之信。」
问：「大人与万物同体，为什么《大学》又讲个厚薄？」
先生说：「只因道理自有厚薄。比如身是一体，用手足去护卫头目，岂是偏要薄待手足？是道理合该如此。禽兽与草木同样是爱的，拿草木去喂养禽兽，又忍得；人与禽兽同样是爱的，宰禽兽来养亲、供祭祀、宴宾客，心又忍得；至亲与路人同样是爱的，如一箪食一豆羹，得则生、不得则死、不能两全时，宁救至亲不救路人，心又忍得：这是道理合该如此。至于吾身与至亲之间，更不得分彼此厚薄，因为仁民爱物都从此处生出；此处若可忍，就没有什么不忍的了。《大学》所谓厚薄，是良知上自然的条理，不可逾越，这便叫作义；顺着这个条理，便叫作礼；知道这个条理，便叫作智；始终是这个条理，便叫作信。」
Asked: 'The great person is one body with all things — why then does the Great Learning speak of thick and thin?'
The Master said: 'Because the principle itself has thick and thin. The body being one, to shield head and eyes with hands and feet is not slighting hands and feet: the principle is thus. Beasts and plants are loved alike, yet feeding beasts with plants is borne; men and beasts are loved alike, yet slaughtering beasts to feed parents, serve the sacrifice and feast guests is borne; dearest kin and the passerby are loved alike, yet with a basket of rice between life and death for both, saving kin and not the stranger is borne: the principle is thus. Only between my own self and dearest kin no thick or thin may be drawn — for loving the people and cherishing things all issue from here; bearable there, nothing would be unbearable. The Great Learning's thick and thin is innate knowledge's own natural ordering, past overstepping: that is called rightness; following the ordering, propriety; knowing it, wisdom; holding it first and last, good faith.'