有一属官因久听讲先生之学，曰：「此学甚好，只是簿书讼狱繁难，不得为学。」
先生闻之，曰：「我何尝教尔离了簿书讼狱，悬空去讲学？尔既有官司之事，便从官司的事上为学，才是真格物。如问一词讼：不可因其应对无状，起个怒心；不可因他言语圆转，生个喜心；不可恶其嘱托，加意治之；不可因其请求，屈意从之；不可因自己事务烦冗，随意苟且断之；不可因旁人谮毁罗织，随人意思处之。这许多意思皆私，只尔自知，须精细省察克治，惟恐此心有一毫偏倚，杜人是非，这便是格物致知。簿书讼狱之间，无非实学。若离了事物为学，却是著空。」
有一位属官因长期听先生讲学，说：「这学问很好，只是簿书讼狱繁难，没工夫为学。」
先生听了说：「我何曾教你离开簿书讼狱悬空去讲学？你既然有官司上的事，就从官司的事上为学，才是真格物。比如审理一件讼案：不可因为当事人应答无礼，起个怒心；不可因为他言语圆滑，生个喜心；不可厌恶他托人情，就特意整治他；不可因为他有请求，就屈意顺从；不可因为自己事务烦冗，就随意苟且断案；不可因为旁人诋毁罗织，就随着人的意思处置。这许多心思都是私，只有你自己知道，必须精细省察克治，唯恐此心有一毫偏倚，枉断了是非。这便是格物致知。簿书讼狱之间，无非实学。若离开了事物为学，倒是着空。」
A subordinate official, long in attendance at the lectures, said: 'This learning is fine indeed; only my ledgers and lawsuits are so tangled there is no room for learning.'
The Master heard and said: 'When did I teach you to quit ledgers and lawsuits and go lecturing in mid-air? Having the business of the courts, learn upon that very business — that is true investigation of things. In hearing a suit: do not flare in anger at insolent answers; do not warm at flattering speech; do not, loathing the man's backdoor pleas, punish the harder; do not, at his entreaty, bend to favor; do not, your own desk heaped, settle it carelessly; do not, at others' slanders and spun tales, dispose by another's will. All these are private stirrings, known to you alone: examine and master them finely, fearing the least lean of the heart, twisting right and wrong — that is investigating things and extending knowledge. Between ledger and lawsuit there is nothing that is not solid learning. Quit things to study, and you study vacancy.'