问：「心要逐物，如何则可？」
先生曰：「人君端拱清穆，六卿分职，天下乃治。心统五官，亦要如此。今眼要视时，心便逐在色上；耳要听时，心便逐在声上。如人君要选官时，便自去坐在吏部；要调军时，便自去坐在兵部。如此，岂惟失却君体，六卿亦皆不得其职。」
有人问：「心总要追逐外物，怎么办才好？」
先生说：「君主端坐清穆，六卿各司其职，天下才得治理。心统率五官，也应如此。如今眼睛要看时，心便追逐在色上；耳朵要听时，心便追逐在声上。就像君主要选官时，便亲自去坐在吏部；要调兵时，便亲自去坐在兵部。这样，岂止失掉了君主的体统，六卿也都不能各尽其职了。」
Someone asked: 'The mind keeps chasing after things — what is to be done?'
The Master said: 'The ruler sits serene and dignified while the six ministers discharge their offices — thus the realm is ordered. The mind commanding the five senses should be thus. Now when the eye would see, the mind chases after sights; when the ear would hear, after sounds — like a ruler who, appointing officials, goes to sit in the Ministry of Personnel himself, or, moving troops, sits in the War Ministry. Not only is the ruler's proper role lost; none of the six ministers can do his office either.'