Mencius Quotes about Water

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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

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.

Mencius

Men, Water, East

The tendency of mans nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downward.

Mencius

Water, Flow, Human Nature

Mencius, James Legge (1875). “The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and Notes”, p.58

Human nature is good, just as water seeks low ground. There is no man who is not good, just as there is no water that does not flow downward.

Mencius

Men, Water, Humanity

Water indeed will flow indifferently to the east or west, but will it flow indifferently up or down? The tendency of our nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downwards. There are none but have this tendency to good, just as all water flows downward.

Mencius

Water, East, Flow

Mencius, James Legge (1875). “The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and Notes”, p.58