问：「后世著述之多，恐亦有乱正学。」
先生曰：「人心天理浑然，圣贤笔之书，如写真传神，不过示人以形状大略，使之因此而讨求其真耳；其精神意气，言笑动止，固有所不能传也。后世著述，是又将圣人所画，摹仿誊写，而妄自分析加增，以逞其技，其失真愈远矣。」
有人问：「后世著述那么多，恐怕也会扰乱正学。」
先生说：「人心与天理本是一体浑然，圣贤把它写在书里，如同画像传神，不过给人看个形状大略，使人借此去探求那个真体罢了；至于精神意气、言笑举止，本来就有传不出来的地方。后世著述，又是把圣人所画的再加以摹仿誊写，还妄自分析添增，以卖弄自己的本事，离真貌就越发远了。」
Someone asked: "The abundance of later writings — does it not also confuse the true learning?"
The Master said: "The human mind and heavenly principle are one seamless whole. When sages committed it to writing, it was like painting a portrait to convey the spirit: they showed people only the rough shape, that they might seek the true likeness from it; the spirit and bearing, the speech and movement, simply cannot be transmitted. Later writings copy and recopy what the sages drew, then presumptuously dissect and add to display their skill, drifting ever further from the truth."