「人一日间，古今世界都经过一番，只是人不见耳。夜气清明时，无视无听，无思无作，淡然平怀，就是羲皇世界。平旦时，神清气朗，雍雍穆穆，就是尧、舜世界。日中以前，礼仪交会，气象秩然，就是三代[1]世界。日中以后，神气渐昏，往来杂扰，就是春秋、战国世界。渐渐昏夜，万物寝息，景象寂寥，就是人消物尽世界。学者信得良知过，不为气所乱，便常做个羲皇已上人。」
「人一天之内，古今世界都经过一番，只是人自己不见罢了。夜气清明时，无视无听、无思无作，淡然平怀，就是伏羲的世界；清晨时，神清气朗、雍雍穆穆，就是尧舜的世界；日中以前，礼仪交会、气象秩然，就是三代的世界；日中以后，神气渐昏、往来杂扰，就是春秋战国的世界；渐渐入夜，万物寝息、景象寂寥，就是人消物尽的世界。学者若信得过良知，不被气机扰乱，便常做个羲皇以上的人。」
'Within a single day a man passes through all the worlds of history — only he does not see it. In the clear night breath, nothing seen nor heard, nothing thought nor done, pale and even in the breast — that is the world of Fuxi. At dawn, spirit clear and breath bright, serene and ordered — the world of Yao and Shun. Before noon, courtesies interweaving, all in due array — the world of the three dynasties. After noon, spirit dimming, comings and goings jostling — the world of Springs and Autumns and Warring States. Deepening dusk, all things at rest, the scene desolate — the world of men gone, things spent. Let the learner trust innate knowledge through, unruffled by the breath's motions, and he lives ever as a man from before Fuxi.'
- 三代：夏、商、周。