朱本思问：「人有[1]虚灵，方有良知。若草、木、瓦、石之类，亦有良知否？」
先生曰：「人的良知，就是草、木、瓦、石的良知；若草、木、瓦、石无人的良知，不可以为草、木、瓦、石矣。岂惟草、木、瓦、石为然？天、地无人的良知，亦不可为天、地矣。盖天、地、万物与人原是一体，其发窍之最精处，是人心一点灵明。风、雨、露、雷，日、月、星、辰，禽、兽、草、木、山、川、土、石，与人原只一体。故五谷、禽兽之类皆可以养人，药石之类皆可以疗疾。只为同此一气，故能相通耳。」
朱本思问：「人有虚灵，才有良知。像草、木、瓦、石之类，也有良知吗？」
先生说：「人的良知，就是草、木、瓦、石的良知。若草、木、瓦、石没有人的良知，就不成其为草、木、瓦、石了。岂止草、木、瓦、石如此？天、地没有人的良知，也不成其为天、地了。天地万物与人原是一体，其发窍的最精处，就是人心的一点灵明。风、雨、露、雷，日、月、星、辰，禽、兽、草、木、山、川、土、石，与人原只一体。所以五谷禽兽之类都可以养人，药石之类都可以疗疾，只因同此一气，所以能相通。」
Zhu Bensi asked: 'Man has the empty and numinous, hence innate knowledge. Have grass, trees, tiles and stones innate knowledge too?'
The Master said: 'Man's innate knowledge is the innate knowledge of grass, trees, tiles and stones; without man's innate knowledge they would not be grass, trees, tiles and stones. Not they alone: without man's innate knowledge, heaven and earth would not be heaven and earth. Heaven, earth and the ten thousand things are one body with man; the finest point of their opening is the one spark of numinous brightness in the human heart. Wind, rain, dew, thunder, sun, moon, stars, birds, beasts, grass, trees, mountains, rivers, earth and stone are one body with man. Hence the grains and beasts can nourish him and medicines and minerals can cure him: one breath in common, and so they interpenetrate.'
- 张本「人有」作「人心」。