大抵童子之情，乐嬉游而惮拘检，如草木之始萌芽，舒畅之则条达，摧挠之则衰痿；今教童子必使其趋向鼓舞，中心喜悦，则其进自不能已：譬之时雨春风，沾被卉木，莫不萌动发越，自然日长月化；若冰霜剥落，则生意萧索，日就枯槁矣。
大抵儿童的天性，喜欢嬉游而怕拘束，如同草木刚萌芽，让它舒展畅达就枝条通达，摧残挠折就衰败萎缩。如今教育儿童，一定要使他趋向鼓舞、心中喜悦，那么他的进步自然不能停止：譬如时雨春风沾溉草木，无不萌动勃发，自然日长月化；若是冰霜剥落，则生机萧索，日渐枯槁了。
Broadly, a child's nature delights in play and dreads restraint, like plants just sprouted: let them open freely and the branches run; bruise and twist them and they wilt. In teaching children one must set them forward with zest, hearts glad — then their progress cannot stop: like seasonable rain and spring wind upon the plants, all bud and surge, growing day by day, transforming month by month; strip them with frost and ice, and the life pines, daily withering.