# Commentary 4: roots and consequences: summary

Explains knowing the root through the difference between hearing disputes and preventing their causes.

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/great-learning/chapter-05-commentary-4-roots-and-consequences

## Source and summary

[Zhu Xi’s Great Learning chapters · Commentary 4: roots and consequences](https://zh.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E5%9B%9B%E6%9B%B8%E7%AB%A0%E5%8F%A5%E9%9B%86%E8%A8%BB/%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%B8%E7%AB%A0%E5%8F%A5&oldid=2647788)

> 子曰：「聽訟，吾猶人也，必也使無訟乎！」無情者不得盡其辭，大畏民志。此謂知本。

Explains knowing the root through the difference between hearing disputes and preventing their causes.

## Editorial interpretation

The example below adapts this chapter’s questions to modern work. Evaluate it against the actual purpose and conditions; ancient politics, warfare or ethics do not establish business results.

## Business application

Investigate confusing explanations and procedures causing repeated requests instead of only handling each request.

1. Choose one relevant case and record its objective, available resources, verified facts and unknowns.
2. Compare options using this chapter’s perspective; choose a limited trial, owner, deadline and a measure to assess the result.

Deliverable: A comparison using commentary 4: roots and consequences, with conditions for acting or declining.

## Limits

The summary selects main points rather than translating every sentence. The example is not a demonstrated business method; check it against stakeholders’ conditions and actual evidence.

## Validation question

How does this chapter’s perspective change the selected option or priority, and what further evidence could change the decision?

[The Great Learning: purpose and practice](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/great-learning)

[This material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/great-learning/chapter-05-commentary-4-roots-and-consequences.en.md)

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0