来书云：「今之为朱、陆之辨者尚未已。每对朋友言，正学不明已久，且不须枉费心力为朱、陆争是非，只依先生『立志』二字点化人。若其人果能辨得此志来，决意要知此学，已是大段明白了。朱、陆虽不辨，彼自能觉得。又尝见朋友中见有人议先生之言者，辄为动气。昔在朱、陆二先生所以遗后世纷纷之议者，亦见二先生工夫有未纯熟，分明亦有动气之病。若明道则无此矣。观其与吴涉礼[1]论介甫之学，云：『为我尽达诸介甫，不有益于他，必有益于我也。』气象何等从容？尝见先生与人书中亦引此言，愿[2]朋友皆如此。如何？」
此节议论得极是极是，愿道通遍以告于同志，各自且论自己是非，莫论朱、陆是非也。以言语谤人，其谤浅；若自己不能身体实践，而徒入耳出口，呶呶度日，是以身谤也，其谤深矣。凡今天下之论议我者，苟能取以为善，皆是砥砺切磋我也，则在我无非警惕修省进德之地矣。昔人谓：「攻吾之短者是吾师。」师又可恶乎？
来信说：「如今为朱熹、陆九渊争辩的还没完。我常对朋友说，正学不明已久，且不须枉费心力为朱陆争是非，只依先生『立志』二字去点化人。若那人果能辨明此志，决意要懂这门学问，已是大体明白了。朱陆之辨虽不做，他自能觉察。又曾见朋友中有人议论先生的言论，就动气。当年朱陆二先生之所以给后世留下纷纷之议，也见二先生功夫有未纯熟，分明也有动气的毛病。像程颢就没有这个。看他与吴涉礼论王安石之学，说：『替我全部转达给介甫，不有益于他，必有益于我。』气象何等从容？曾见先生与人书中也引此言，希望朋友都能如此。怎么样？」
这节议论得极对极对，希望道通遍告同志，各自且论自己的是非，莫论朱陆的是非。用言语诽谤人，那诽谤还浅；若自己不能身体实践，而徒然入耳出口、喋喋度日，那就是用身子诽谤，那诽谤就深了。凡今天下议论我的人，只要能取以为善，都是砥砺切磋我，那么在我无非是警惕修省、进德之地了。古人说：「攻我之短者是我师。」老师难道可以厌恶吗？
Your letter says: 'The Zhu-Xi-versus-Lu-Jiuyuan quarrel still runs on. I often tell friends: the true learning has been dark so long — do not waste strength defending Zhu or Lu; just use your two words set the will to awaken people. One who truly makes out this will and resolves to know this learning is already largely clear; the Zhu-Lu case he will settle for himself. Again, when friends hear people carp at your words, they flare up. That the two masters left the world this wrangle shows their own work unripe — plainly the same flaring. Cheng Hao had none of it: see him discussing Wang Anshi's learning with Wu Sheli — convey it all to Jiefu for me: if it does not profit him, it will profit me. What composure! I have seen you cite this in letters, wishing all friends were thus. Is that right?'
Perfectly right — tell all our fellows: let each mind his own right and wrong, not Zhu's and Lu's. To slander with words is shallow slander; but failing to practice in one's own body, letting it run in the ear and out the mouth, clamoring the days away — that is slandering with one's very self, slander most deep. Whoever under heaven criticizes me, if I take it as good, it is all whetstone and grindstone to me; in me, all of it is ground for vigilance, self-repair and growth in virtue. The ancients said: who attacks my shortcomings is my teacher. Can one hate one's teacher?
- 《二程全书·遗书》卷一作陈师礼。
- 德安府南本，「愿」作「顾」。