Kongzi said: Learn and then seasonally practice it—not indeed pleasant? Have friends from far away places come—not indeed happiness? Not known by others, and yet not angered—not indeed a noble man?
When reading the Discourses (Lunyu 論語) one should thoroughly study the first chapter, “Learn And.” If one has an enlightened grasp of this chapter, the rest will easily reveal itself. [20:1.1:1]
今讀論語，且熟讀學而一篇，若明得一篇，其餘自然易曉。
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In the case of each verse in the “Learn And” chapter, what comes earlier speaks to self-cultivation, and what comes later to kin, teachers, and friends. [20:1.1:2]
學而篇皆是先言自修，而後親師友。
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Entering the path of the Dao involves immersing oneself in its principles, gradually becoming intimate with them until, over time, they become one with the self. Yet, nowadays, people keep the principles of the Dao here and themselves outside, never truly engaging or intersecting with them! [20:1.1:3]
入道之門，是將自家身己入那道理中去，漸漸相親，久之與己為一。而今人道理在這裏，自家身在外面，全不曾相干涉！
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The words of the sages and worthies are plainly stated in the texts. Take, for example, Teacher Kong’s saying “to learn and then frequently practice it.” This directly instructs us that whatever one learns, one should regularly apply in practice. [20:1.1:48]
聖賢言語平鋪地說在那裏。如夫子說「學而時習之」，自家是學何事，便須著時習。