《大学》原为《礼记》第四十二篇，约为秦汉之际儒家作品。一说曾子作。提出明明德、亲民、止于至善的三纲领和格物、致知、诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下的八条目。宋代程颢、程颐兄弟从《礼记》中把它抽出，以与《论语》、《孟子》、《中庸》相配合。至南宋淳熙年间（1174-—1189），朱熹撰《四书集注》，将它和《中庸》、《论语》、《孟子》合为“四书”。现在如今流传最广的版本为朱熹版本。
《大学》
The Great Learning
By Confucius Written ca. 500 B.C.E第十章 Chapter 10
所谓治国必先齐其家者，其家不可教而能教人者，无之。故君子不出家而成教于国。孝者，所以事君也；悌者，所以事长也；慈者，所以使众也。
注解：之所以说治理国家必须先管理好自己的家庭和家族，是因为不能管教好家人而能管教好别人的人，是没有的，所以，有修养的人在家里就受到了治理国家方面的教育：对父母的孝顺可以用于侍奉君主；对兄长的恭敬可以用于侍奉官长；对子女的慈爱可以用于统治民众。
What is meant by "In order rightly to govern the state, it is necessary first to regulate the family," is this:-It is not possible for one to teach others, while he cannot teach his own family. Therefore, the ruler, without going beyond his family, completes the lessons for the state. There is filial piety:-therewith the. sovereign should be served. There is fraternal submission:-therewith elders and superiors should be served. There is kindness:-therewith the multitude should be treated.《康诰》曰：“如保赤子。”心诚求之，虽不中不远矣。未有学养子而后嫁者也。一家仁，一国兴仁；
注解：《康浩》说：“如同爱护婴儿一样。”内心真诚地去追求，即使达不到目标，也不会相差太远。要知道，没有先学会了养孩子再去出嫁的人啊！
In the Announcement to K'ang, it is said, "Act as if you were watching over an infant." If a mother is really anxious about it, though she may not hit exactly the wants of her infant, she will not be far from doing so. There never has been a girl who learned to bring up a child, that she might afterwards marry.一家让，一国兴让；一人贪戾，一国作乱：其机如此。此谓一言偾事，一人定国。
注解：一家仁爱，一国也会兴起仁爱；一家礼让，一国也会兴起礼让；一人贪婪暴戾，一国就会犯上作乱。其联系就是这样紧密，这就叫做：一句话就会坏事，一个人就能安定国家。
From the loving example of one family a whole state becomes loving,and from its courtesies the whole state becomes courteous while, from the ambition and perverseness of the One man, the whole state may be led to rebellious disorder;-such is the nature of the influence. This verifies the saying, "Affairs may be ruined by a single sentence; a kingdom may be settled by its One man."尧、舜帅天下以仁，而民从之。桀、纣帅天下以暴，而民从之。其所令反其所好，而民不从。是故君子有诸己而后求诸人，无诸己而后非诸人。所藏乎身不恕，而能喻诸人者，未之有也。故治国在齐其家。
注解：尧舜用仁爱统治天下，老百姓就跟随着仁爱；桀纣用凶暴统治天下，老百姓就跟随着凶暴。统治者的命令与自己的实际做法相反，老百姓是不会服从的。所以，品德高尚的，总是自己先做到。然后才要求别人做到；自己先不这样做，然后才要求别人不这样做。不采取这种推己及人的恕道而想让别人按自己的意思去做，那是不可能的。所以，要治理国家必须先管理好自己的家庭和家族。
Yao and Shun led on the kingdom with benevolence and the people followed them. Chieh and Chau led on the kingdom with violence, and people followed them. The orders which these issued were contrary to the practices which they loved, and so the people did not follow them. On this account, the ruler must himself be possessed of the good qualities, and then he may require them in the people. He must not have the bad qualities in himself, and then he may require that they shall not be in the people. Never has there been a man, who, not having reference to his own character and wishes in dealing with others, was able effectually to instruct them. Thus we see how the government of the state depends on the regulation of the family.《诗》云：“桃之夭夭，其叶蓁蓁。之子于归，宜其家人。”宜其家人，而后可以教国人。
注解：《诗经》说：“桃花鲜美，树叶茂密，这个姑娘出嫁了、让全家人都和睦。”让全家人都和睦，然后才能够让一国的人都和睦。
In the Book of Poetry, it is said, "That peach tree, so delicate and elegant! How luxuriant is its foliage! This girl is going to her husband's house. She will rightly order her household." Let the household be rightly ordered, and then the people of the state may be taught. 《诗》云：“宜兄宜弟。”宜兄宜弟，而后可以教国人。
注解：《诗经》说：“兄弟和睦。”兄弟和睦了，然后才能够让一国的人都和睦。
In the Book of Poetry, it is said, "They can discharge their duties to their elder brothers. They can discharge their duties to their younger brothers." Let the ruler discharge his duties to his elder and younger brothers, and then he may teach the people of the state.《诗》云：“其仪不忒，正是四国。”其为父子兄弟足法，而后民法之也。此谓治国在齐其家。
注解：《诗经》说：“容貌举止庄重严肃，成为四方国家的表率。”只有当一个人无论是作为父亲、儿子，还是兄长、弟弟时都值得人效法时，老百姓才会去效法他。这就是要治理国家必须先管理好家庭和家族的道理。
In the Book of Poetry, it is said, "In his deportment there is nothing wrong; he rectifies all the people of the state." Yes; when the ruler, as a father, a son, and a brother, is a model, then the people imitate him.This is what is meant by saying, "The government of his kingdom depends on his regulation of the family."《大学》The Great Learning Chapter 3
《大学》The Great Learning Chapter 4
《大学》The Great Learning Chapter 5
《大学》The Great Learning Chapter 6
《大学》The Great Learning Chapter 7
《大学》The Great Learning Chapter 8