Listen to this articlexiūqízhìpíng 修齐治平
Self-Cultivation, Family Regulation, State Governance, Bringing Peace to All under Heaven
“修身”“齐家”“治国”“平天下”的缩写。以个人自身修养为基础逐步向外扩展，先治理好家庭，进而治理好邦国，更进而安抚和治理天下百姓。这是中国古代儒家伦理哲学和政治抱负的一个重要命题，体现了儒家由个人而家而国而天下层层递进的道德政治观。在逐步向外扩展的过程中，个人的德行和修养与不同层面的政治抱负息息相关。
Self-Cultivation is the starting point of several steps moving outward. The next step is managing family affairs, followed by governing the state. The final step is moving to provide peace and sound governance to all under heaven. This process is a fundamental theme in Confucian moral philosophy and discourse on politics. It is a gradually expanding process beginning with the individual and emanating outward into serving and benefiting an ever-larger whole. In such a process an individual’s virtue and self-improvement are inseparable from his political aspirations.
引例 Citation：
◎古之欲明明德于天下者，先治其国。欲治其国者，先齐其家。欲齐其家者，先修其身。（《礼记·大学》）
（过去想要让美德在全天下发扬光大的人，先要治理好自己的邦国。想要治理好自己的邦国，先要治理好自己的家[周朝时为封地]。想要治理好自己的家，先要努力提高自身修养。）
The ancients, who wished to promote illustrious virtue under heaven, first had to rule their own states well. Wishing to govern their states well, they first had to manage their fiefdoms well. Wishing to manage their fiefdoms well, they first had to cultivate themselves. (The Book of Rites)
