本文將就先秦儒家孔子、孟子、荀子思想中，對於人在言語範疇，所需面對的諸多問題進行探究。本文所稱之「言語」，乃就其廣義而言，舉凡人之言談、論辯、為文、著述、發問、聽聞、以及學與教諸事，均為本文所研討之範疇。此外，有關何以知言、知人；便佞利口之弊；以言舉人之知；言語之積極意義；德性、言語之主從關係；人於踐行信實德目時，所當依循之準則；以及言語之於政治的重要性等議題，亦為本文探析之重點。

　　　　　In this essay, I will study the way of stating according to the records of the Analects, Mencius, and Hsun-Tzu. "Stating" is used in a broad way here. The way of stating and the way of responding to people's statements will both be studied. Every and each problem which men will face in the field of stating will be discussed in this article, such as the way of speaking, debating, reporting, writing, raising questions, listening, answering, learning and teaching. The following issues will also be discussed in detail: the way of comprehending people's statements, the way of knowing people by their words, the disadvantages which people with facile tongues easily cause, the error of raising men because of their statements, the value and purpose of stating, the relations between virtue and stating, the virtue which people should follow when they fulfill their words, and the influence of men's statements on politics.