修之于身，其德乃真；修之于家，其德乃余；修之于乡，其德乃长；修之于国，其德乃丰；修之于天下，其德乃普。
Apply it to yourself and by its power you will be freed from dross. #2 Apply it to your household and your household shall thereby have abundance. #3 Apply it to the village, and the village will be made secure. #4 Apply it to the kingdom, and the kingdom shall thereby be made to flourish. #5 Apply it to an empire, and the empire shall thereby be extended.
故以身观身，以家观家，以乡观乡，以国观国，以天下观天下。
Therefore just as through oneself one may contemplate oneself, so through the household one may contemplate the Household, and through the village, one may contemplate the Village, and through the kingdom, one may contemplate the Kingdom, and through the empire, one may contemplate the Empire.
吾何以知天下然哉﹖
How do I know that the empire is so?