Together with The Doctrine of the Mean on the previous page these three works of antiquity comprise the most central Confucian canon. By the way, the words 'Confucius', 'Confucian', and 'Confucianism' are not really meaningful terms among the Chinese, but are rather Western terms with no counterparts in Chinese. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose. In that repose there may be careful deliberation, and that deliberation will be followed by the attainment of the desired end. Things have their root and their branches.
Affairs have their end and their beginning.
To know what is first and what is last will lead near to what is taught in the Great Learning. The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts.