Unlike what you might imagine, when you turn to the first section of the Yan Family Precepts, the Foreword, you don't find dogmatic platitudes. Instead, you find heartfelt words of advice such as a father on the verge of retirement might give to his son about to take over the family business.
和想像中不同的是，翻開顏氏家訓第一篇「序致」，找不到老頭子板著臉說教的道貌岸然，反倒像即將退休的父親叮囑繼承家業重擔的兒子的體己話。