问：「『颜子没而圣学亡』，此语不能无疑。」
先生曰：「见圣道之全者惟颜子。观『喟然一叹』可见。其谓『夫子循循然善诱人，博我以文，约我以礼』，是见破后如此说。博文、约礼如何是善诱人？学者须思之。道之全体，圣人亦难以语人，须是学者自修自悟。颜子『虽欲从之，末由也已』，即文王『望道未见』意。望道未见，乃是真见。颜子没，而圣学之正派遂不尽传矣。」
有人问：「『颜子死后圣学就亡了』，这话不能没有疑问。」
先生说：「见到圣道全体的只有颜子，看那一声『喟然叹息』就可以知道。他说『夫子循循然善诱人，博我以文，约我以礼』，是看透之后才这样说的。博文、约礼怎么会是善于诱导人？学者须自己体究。道的全体，圣人也难以用言语告诉人，必须学者自修自悟。颜子『虽然想追随，却找不到途径』，正是文王『望道未见』的意思。望道未见，才是真见。颜子一死，圣学的正宗便不能完全传下来了。」
Someone asked: 'That with Yan Hui's death the sagely learning perished — I cannot but doubt it.'
The Master said: 'Yan Hui alone saw the Way in its wholeness — his deep sigh shows it. His words — the Master skillfully led me on step by step, broadening me with culture, restraining me with ritual — were said after seeing it through. How are broad culture and ritual restraint skillful leading? Learners must think on this. The wholeness of the Way even the sage can hardly tell in words; learners must cultivate and awaken to it themselves. Yan Hui's 'longing to follow, yet finding no way' is King Wen's gazing on the Way as if unseen. To gaze on it as unseen is truly to see. With Yan Hui dead, the true line of the sagely learning was no longer fully handed down.'