In more simple terms, the formulation translates to act on a maxim, or a motivating principle, that you would want to become a universal law. The key factor in the first formulation of the categorical imperative is the idea of a universal law. Kant stresses that one must rationalize whether their action should be applied universally. For example, if a man is considering lying because it is more convenient for him, then he must rationally decide whether the maxim could be applied universally. If the maxim is lying when convenient, then the man must imagine how the world would be if, universally, people lied when convenient. He would then rationalize that if lying when convenient was a universal law, then lying and honesty would become indistinguishable
