The illustrious ancients, when they wished to make clear and to propagate the highest virtues in the world,

Confucian Proper Order 

and the Commonwealth

by Confucius 

"The illustrious ancients, when they wished to make clear and to propagate the highest virtues in the world, put their states in proper order. 

• Before putting their states in proper order, they regulated their families. 
• Before regulating their families, they cultivated their own selves. 
• Before cultivating their own selves, they perfected their souls. 
• Before perfecting their souls, they tried to be sincere in their thoughts. 
• Before trying to be sincere in their thoughts, they extended to the utmost their knowledge. 

Such investigation of knowledge lay in the investigation of things, and in seeing them as they really were. 

• When things were thus investigated, knowledge became complete. 
• When knowledge was complete, their thoughts became sincere. 
• When their thoughts were sincere, their souls became perfect. 
• When their souls were perfect, their own selves became cultivated. 
• When their selves were cultivated, their families became regulated. 
• When their families were regulated, their states came to be put into proper order. 
• When their states were in proper order, then the whole world became peaceful and happy."