至誠盡性是中庸全篇主旨所在。只有至誠者能盡其本性,實(shí)現(xiàn)其本性,一切人都能實(shí)現(xiàn)其本性,為仁善行表現(xiàn)在社會各個(gè)方面,則萬物的天性也可以得到實(shí)現(xiàn)了。人如果能發(fā)揚(yáng)向善之心,由仁民愛民而愛萬物,珍惜萬物,就可以贊助天地的化育之功。人類為萬物之靈,可以以其智慧及能力讓大自然中的萬物得到適當(dāng)?shù)纳鏅C(jī)會。人可以與天地并地而為三。儒家這種致極、致美的思想境界值得每個(gè)人去追求,為之而不懈努力。
中庸·二十二
唯天下至誠,為能盡其性;能盡其性,則能盡人之性;能盡人之性,則能盡物之性;能盡物之性,則可以贊天地之化育;可以贊天地之化育,則可以與天地參矣。
XXII
It is only he, in the world, who possesses absolute truth, who can get to the bottom of the law of his being. He who is able to get to the bottom of the law of his being, will be able to get to the bottom of the law of being of other men. He who is able to get to the bottom of the law of being of men, will be able to get to the bottom of the laws of physical nature. He who is able to get to the bottom of the laws of physical nature, will be able to influence the forces of creation of the Universe. He who can influence the forces of creation of the Universe, is one with the Powers of the Universe.