Studying the nature of things to acquire knowledge
This is a quotation from The Great Learning. It is an important concept in traditional Chinese culture, meaning that one should conduct a full investigation of a certain issue to get a complete understanding. "Studying the nature of things, acquiring knowledge, making one's purpose sincere, adjusting one's thoughts, cultivating oneself, managing the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to all under heaven," these are collectively known as the "eight essential principles" of ancient political philosophy.
This quotation indicates that one needs to use knowledge already acquired to analyze and judge the surrounding people and objects in order to build a clear outlook on the world, life and values. The extended meaning is that one should learn to tell right and wrong and discern truth from falsehood, get to know oneself through interaction with other people and surrounding objects, and find one's own position in society.
At a seminar in Peking University in May 2014, Xi Jinping pointed out: Since ancient times, the Chinese people have developed our country through studying the nature of things to acquire knowledge, correcting thoughts with sincerity, cultivating the moral self, managing the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to all under heaven.
格物致知
“格物致知”出自《大学》，是中国传统文化中的重要概念，表达一种对问题穷追不舍的精神，与诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下并称“八条目”。基本含义为用自己学得的知识来分析和判断周围的人物和事物，建立完善的三观。引申为懂得“本心”分辨是非真假，并在与周围的人和事接触时更进一步了解自己，更好地找到自己的定位。
2014年5月，习近平在北京大学和师生座谈时谈到，“中国古代历来讲格物致知、诚意正心、修身齐家、治国平天下”，阐发了中国人讲求探究事物原理，从中获得智慧，其目的就是追求诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下的境界。