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
element people sovereign spirits
The people are the most important element in a nation; the spirits of the land and grain are the next; the sovereign is the least.
life people plan private property
People can have a long-term life plan only if they know their private property is secure.
animal water people
The people turn in allegiance to Humanity, as surely as water flows downward or as a wild animal takes cover in the wilderness.
people heaven
Heaven sees as the people see. Heaven hears as the people hear.
knowing people desire
All people have the common desire to be elevated in honour, but all people have something still more elevated in themselves without knowing it.
people tao far-away
The Tao is near and people seek it far away.
people feelings able
If you let people follow their feelings, they will be able to do good. This is what is meant by saying that human nature is good.
people situation comment
People are eager to comment on something when they themselves are not in the situation of doing it.
chinese-philosopher firmly men ought
Let men decide firmly what they will not do, and they will be free to do vigorously what they ought to do.
accumulate attract difficult effective protection valuable
Without effective protection of the citizens' right to property, it will be difficult to attract and accumulate valuable capital.
becomes blocked equally grass time trail
A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time.
bright confucius night
If Confucius wasn't born, the long night would have no bright lamp.
great man
Only when a man will not do some things is he capable of doing great things.
friendship man
Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue.