《明史·列传·卷一百七十》
王守仁回信说 ：理无内外，性无内外，故学无内外。讲习学问未尝不是内心之事，而内心反省体验也曾抛弃身外之物。 二人就 格物致知 与 正心诚意 这个传统主题进行反复辩论，直至王守仁去世。
审如所言，则《大学》当云 格物在致知 ，不当云 致知在格物 ，与 物格而后知至 矣。 书未及达，守仁已殁。
Wang Shouren replied: "Reason has no inside or outside, nature has no inside or outside, so learning has no inside or outside. Studying knowledge has never not been a matter of the heart, and self-reflection and experience have also abandoned external things." The two repeatedly debated the traditional themes of ge wu zhi zhi (investigation of things and attainment of knowledge) and zheng xin cheng yi (correct heart and sincere intentions) until Wang Shouren passed away.