The above is derived from the Chinese motto, quoted from the great Chinese classic Yijing (Book of Change) and two ancient treatises, one from Han dynasty and the other from pre-Qin times.
The original Chinese text can be paraphrased as follows: "Learn every truth and use the knowledge learned to accomplish every task" and "To learn; to serve".
「開物成務」出自《易．系辭上》﹕「夫《易》，開物成務，冒天下之道，如斯而已者也。」孔穎達疏：「言《易》能開通萬物之志，成就天下之務，有覆冒天下之道；斯，此也。易之體用，如此而已。」意謂《易》的功用，就在使人通曉萬物之理，並根據這種知識去辦事，把事情辦好。
「勵學利民」取自漢王充《論衡》﹕「夫可知之事，惟精思之，雖大無難；不可知之事，厲心學問，雖小無易。故智能之士，不學不成，不問不知。」及《逸周書》：「王者所佩在德，德在利民。」
