Gǔ / dài / dú / shū / rén / cháng / yǐ / xiū / shēn / lì / dé / wéi / běn / chén / shì / wéi / mín / wéi / zhì

古代读书人常以修身立德为本，臣仕为民为志。

Scholars in ancient times often regarded self-cultivation as fundamental and serving in government for the people as their goal.