Mencius
Mencius
Mencius /ˈmɛnʃiəs/ or Mengzi Chinese: 孟子;was a Chinese philosopher who is the most famous Confucian after Confucius himself...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryChina
men water humanity
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.
years evil waiting
If you know that a thing is unrighteous, then use all dispatch in putting an end to it--why wait till next year?
men evil way
The way of truth is like a great road. It is not difficult to know it. The evil is only that men will not seek it.
men shame
A man must not be without shame, for the shame of being without shame is shamelessness indeed.
men thinking heaven
Sincerity is the way to heaven; to think how to be sincere is the way of man.
self-esteem lying self-confidence
The foundation of the world lies in the nation. The foundation of the nation lies in the family. The foundation of the family lies in the individual.
love-is government opponents
If the prince of a State love benevolence, he will have no opponent in all the empire.
responsibility roots duty
Every duty is a charge, but the charge of oneself is the root of all others.
mean understanding grasping
To lay hold of the mean without taking into account the occasion is like grasping one thing only.
water flow west
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.
character eye men
Listen to a man's words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character?
children heart your-children
Never lose your child's heart.
exercise practice government
Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.
attitude spirit great-person
The great person never loses a childlike spirit.