Listen to this articlezūn déxìng 尊德性
Revere One’s Virtuous Nature
尊崇天赋的道德本性。“尊德性”一说出自《中庸》，与“道问学”共同构成了对人的道德修养的要求。《中庸》认为，人具有天赋的道德本性。后世儒者发挥《中庸》的思想，进一步认为，天赋的道德本性是天理在人性中的体现。人应该充分尊重并发挥这种内在的道德本性，以符合天理的法则，进而成就自身的美德。
This phrase, which first appears in The Doctrine of the Golden Mean, refers to the need to revere the virtuous nature bestowed on human beings by heaven. Together with quest for knowledge, it constitutes an ethical standard. According to The Doctrine of the Golden Mean, everyone has a heavenly bestowed virtuous nature. Scholars of later generations developed this notion further, suggesting that this inherent nature is actually a manifestation of the heavenly law in human nature. People should revere and fully express their inherent virtuous nature so as to act in keeping with the heavenly law and realize their full virtue.
引例 Citation：
◎故君子尊德性而道问学，致广大而尽精微，极高明而道中庸。温故而知新，敦厚以崇礼。（《礼记·中庸》）
（因此君子尊崇德性又从事于对知识学问的追求，使自己的认识广博又能极尽其精微之处，极为高明又能遵行中庸之道。温习旧有的知识并获得新的理解与体会，为人敦厚又崇尚礼法。）
Therefore, a gentleman should revere the virtuous nature of human beings and constantly pursue knowledge. This way, he will acquire extensive knowledge and gain command of it in an in-depth way. He can thus reach mastery and observe the doctrine of the Mean. He can review what he has learned in the past and acquire new understanding of them. He will be honest and sincere by observing rites and etiquettes. (The Doctrine of the Golden Mean)
