Translated into vernacular, Four Sentences of Hengqu is to establish the heart of life for heaven and earth, point out a common path for the people, inherit the knowledge of Confucius and Mencius and other sages, and open up a foundation of permanent peace for future generations.

"Four sentences in a horizontal canal" is a famous saying of Zhang Zai in the Northern Song Dynasty, that is, "Make a heart for heaven and earth, make a life for the people, carry forward the past and forge ahead into the future, and make the world peaceful". Feng Youlan, a contemporary philosopher, called it "four sentences in a horizontal canal", which is praised by people for its simplicity and atmosphere.