Mencius Quotes - Page 3

It is true that water will flow indifferently to east and west, but will it flow equally well up and down? Human nature is disposed toward goodness, just as water tends to flow downwards. There is no water but flows downwards, and no man but shows his tendency to be good. Now, by striking water hard, you may splash it higher than your forehead, and by damming it, you may make it go uphill. But, is that the nature of water? It is external force that causes it to do so. Likewise, if a man is made to do what is not good, his nature is being similarly forced.

The fruit of humanity is devotion to one's parents. The fruit of righteousness is to respect one's elders. The fruit of wisdom is to understand these two and not to betray them. The fruit of propriety is to regulate and polish them. The fruit of music is the joy that comes from rejoicing in them. When one rejoices in them, they grow. When they grow, how can they be stopped? And when they cannot be stopped, unconsciously one's feet begin to dance and one's arms begin to wave.

The gap between enthusiasm and indifference is filled with failures. The great man is he that does not lose his child's heart.

The feeling of commiseration is the beginning of humanity; the feeling of shame and dislike is the beginning of righteousness; the feeling of deference and compliance is the beginning of propriety; and the feeling of right or wrong is the beginning of wisdom.Men have these Four Beginnings just as they have their four limbs. Having these Four Beginnings, but saying that they cannot develop them is to destroy themselves.

If the King loves music, it is well with the land.

In abundance prepare for scarcity.

The way of learning is none other than finding the lost mind.

When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit because their strength is not adequate to resist.

He who loves others is always loved by them, and he who respects others is always respected by them.

The myriad things are complete in us. There is no greater joy than to reflect on ourselves and become sincere.

A real man is he whose goodness is a part of himself.

The way is near, but men seek it afar. It is in easy things, but men seek for it in difficult things.

A great man is one who has not lost the child's heart.

Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue, and does not admit of assumptions of superiority.

Secure property in hand leads to peace in mind.

All things are complete within ourselves.

If the prince of a State love benevolence, he will have no opponent in all the empire.

All things are already complete in us. There is no greater delight than to be conscious of right within us. If one strives to treat others as he would be treated by them, he shall not fail to come near the perfect life.

Treat your elders as elders, and extend it to the elders of others; treat your young ones as young ones, and extend it to the young ones of others; then you can turn the whole world in the palm of your hand

The root of the kingdom is in the state. The root of the state is in the family. The root of the family is in the person of its head.

The great man does not think beforehand of his words that they may be sincere, nor of his actions that they may be resolute- he simply speaks and does what is right.

It is not difficult to govern. All one has to do is not to offend the noble families.

When the men of antiquity realized their wishes, benefits were conferred by them on the people. If they did not realize their wishes, they cultivated their personal character, and became illustrious in the world. If poor, they attended to their own virtue in solitude; if advanced to dignity, they made the whole empire virtuous as well.

Let not a man do what his sense of right bids him not to do, nor desire what it forbids him to desire. This is sufficient. The skillful artist will not alter his measures for the sake of a stupid workman.

Benevolence is one of the distinguishing characters of man.