先生曰：「众人只说『格物』要依晦翁，何曾把他的说去用？我著实曾用来。初年与钱友同论做圣贤，要格天下之物，如今安得这等大的力量？因指亭前竹子，令去格看。钱子[1]早夜去穷格竹子的道理，竭其心思；至于三日，便致劳神成疾。当初说他这是精力不足，某因自去穷格，早夜不得其理；到七日，亦以劳思致疾。遂相与叹圣贤是做不得的，无他大力量去格物了。及在夷中三年[2]，颇见得此意思。方知天下之物本无可格者。其格物之功，只在身心上做；决然以圣人为人人可到，便自有担当了。这里意思，却要说与诸公知道。」
先生说：「众人只说『格物』要依朱晦翁，何曾真把他的说法去用过？我着实曾用过。早年与钱友同论做圣贤，要格天下之物，如今哪来这么大的力量？于是指着亭前的竹子，让他去格。钱友早夜去穷格竹子的道理，竭尽心思，到第三天便劳神成疾。当初说他是精力不足，我便自己去穷格，早夜不得其理；到第七天，也因劳思成疾。于是两人相对而叹圣贤是做不得的，没有那样大的力量去格物了。后来在贵州蛮夷之地三年，颇见得这个意思，才知道天下之物本无可格的；格物的功夫只在身心上做。断然相信圣人是人人可到的，便自然有了担当。这层意思，却要说与诸位知道。」
The Master said: 'All say investigating things must follow Hui'an — who ever actually used his method? I used it in earnest. In early years, vowing sagehood with a friend named Qian, we would investigate all the things under heaven — where was such strength to be had? Pointing to the bamboo before the pavilion, I bade him investigate it. Day and night he exhausted his mind on the bamboo's principle; by the third day he had worn himself ill. We said then it was lack of stamina; I went at it myself, day and night without the principle; by the seventh day I too fell ill of overthinking. We sighed each to each: sagehood is not to be had — no strength so vast for investigating things. Years later, among the Yi of the far south, the sense came home: the things of the world are simply not there to be investigated; the work lies only on one's own body and mind. Convinced the sage is within every man's reach, one takes the burden on one's own shoulders. This meaning I must have you know.'
- 钱子，情况不详，非钱德洪。
- 正德元年至三年（1506-1508）。