【原文】人故相憎也，人之心悍。故为之法。法出于礼，礼出于治，治礼道也，万物待治礼而后定。《枢言》

 

【汉解】人们本来是相互憎恶的，人心凶悍，所以要颁布法律。法出于礼，礼出于理论。理论与礼都是道。万物的关系都是根据理论和礼的出现而后才确定下来的。

 

【英译】Men in ancient times were hostile to each other, and their hearts were cruel. Therefore laws were made for them. Laws emanated from rules of propriety, and these in turn from the requirements for good order. Good order and customary rules of behavior constitute the moral way. All beginnings await the security that comes when good order and the rules of propriety prevail.