门人有言邵端峰[1]论童子不能格物，只教以洒扫、应对之说。
先生曰：「洒扫、应对就是一件物。童子良知只到此，便教去洒扫、应对，就是致他这一点良知了。又如童子知畏先生、长者，此亦是他良知处。故虽嬉戏中，见了先生、长者，便去作揖恭敬，是他能格物以致敬师长之良知了。童子自有童子的格物致知。」
又曰：「我这里言格物，自童子以至圣人，皆是此等工夫；但圣人格物，便更熟得些子，不消费力。如此格物，虽卖柴人亦是做得；虽公卿大夫以至天子，皆是如此做。」
门人中有人说邵端峰主张儿童不能格物，只教他洒扫应对。
先生说：「洒扫应对就是一件物。儿童的良知只到这个地步，便教他去洒扫应对，就是致他这一点良知了。又如儿童知道敬畏先生长者，这也是他良知处。所以虽在嬉戏中，见了先生长者便去作揖恭敬，这就是他能格物以致敬师长的良知了。儿童自有儿童的格物致知。」
又说：「我这里讲格物，从儿童到圣人，都是这一样功夫；只是圣人格物，更熟练些，不费力气。像这样格物，卖柴的人也做得；公卿大夫以至天子，也都是这样做。」
A disciple reported that Shao Duanfeng held children incapable of investigating things and to be taught only sweeping, responding and deferring.
The Master said: 'Sweeping and responding are themselves a thing. A child's innate knowledge reaches just so far: teach him sweeping and responding, and that is extending that point of his innate knowledge. Again, a child's awe of teacher and elder is his innate knowledge: even at play, meeting them, he bows with respect — that is his investigating the thing to honor teacher and elder. Children have children's own investigation and extension.'
He added: 'My ge wu runs from child to sage, the selfsame work; only the sage's is the riper, costing nothing. Done thus, the wood-seller can do it; minister, high officer, the Son of Heaven himself — all do it just so.'
- 情况不详。