Mencius quotes

Mencius was a renowned Chinese philosopher and one of the most important Confucian thinkers after Confucius himself. His teachings emphasized the inherent goodness of human nature and the importance of benevolent governance. He influenced generations of scholars and remains a central figure in Chinese intellectual history. Here are 35 of his quotes:

The great man is the one who does not lose his child's heart. (Mencius)
Friends are the siblings God never gave us. View quote
Mencius
Friendship is one mind in two bodies. View quote
Mencius
Sincerity is the way of Heaven. View quote
Mencius
The feeling of commiseration is the beginning of humanity. View quote
Mencius
If the king loves music, there is little wrong in the land. View quote
Mencius
He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his nature. View quote
Mencius
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. View quote
Mencius
The way of learning is none other than finding the lost mind. View quote
Mencius
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. View quote
Mencius
Evil exists to glorify the good. Evil is negative good. It is a relative term. Evil can be transmuted into good. What is evil to one at one time, becomes good at another time to somebody else. (Mencius)
He who attends to his greater self becomes a great man, and he who attends to his smaller self becomes a small man. View quote
Mencius
They who accord with Heaven are preserved, and they who rebel against Heaven perish. View quote
Mencius
The sense of mercy is found in all men; the sense of shame is found in all men; the sense of respect is found in all men; the sense of right and wrong is found in all men. View quote
Mencius
The superior man has three things in which he delights, and to be ruler over the kingdom is not one of them. That his father and mother are both alive, and that the condition of his brothers affords no cause for anxiety;-this is one delight. That, when looking up, he has no occasion for shame before Heaven, and, below, he has no occasion to blush before men;-this is a second delight. That he can get from the whole kingdom the most talented individuals, and teach and nourish them;-this is the third delight. View quote
Mencius
Before a man can do things there must be things he will not do. View quote
Mencius
Most precious are the people; next come the spirits of land and grain; and last, the kings. View quote
Mencius
Why must your Majesty use that word 'profit'? What I am provided with, are counsels to benevolence and righteousness, and these are my only topics. View quote
Mencius
Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight. View quote
Mencius
He who outrages benevolence is called a ruffian: he who outrages righteousness is called a villain. View quote
Mencius
Having these Four Beginnings, but saying that they cannot develop them is to destroy themselves. (Mencius)
Of the first importance are the people, next comes the good of land and grains, and of the least importance is the ruler. View quote
Mencius
Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness. View quote
Mencius
There is no greater delight than to be conscious of sincerity on self-examination. View quote
Mencius
Only when a man will not do some things is he capable of doing great things. View quote
Mencius