Mencius Quotes

47 Sourced Quotes

The people are the most important element in a nation; the spirits of the land and grain are next; the sovereign is the lightest.

Mencius
Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and knowledge are not infused into us from without.

Mencius
When Heaven is about to confer a great office on any man, it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones with toil.

Mencius
Men must be decided on what they will not do, and then they are able to act with vigor in what they ought to do.

Mencius
He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his nature.

Mencius
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.

Mencius
Is it only the mouth and belly which are injured by hunger and thirst? Men's minds are also injured by them.

Mencius
The superior man will not manifest either narrowmindedness or the want of self-respect.

Mencius
The people turn to a benevolent rule as water flows downwards, and as wild beasts fly to the wilderness.

Mencius
If you let people follow their feelings [original nature], they will be able to do good. This is what is meant by saying that human nature is good.

Mencius
Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.

Mencius
All men have the mind which cannot bear [to see the suffering of] others.

Mencius
He who loves others is constantly loved by them. He who respects others is constantly respected by them.

Mencius
Benevolence is man's mind, and righteousness is man's path.

Mencius
There are three things which are unfilial, and to have no posterity is the greatest of them.

Mencius
He who outrages benevolence is called a ruffian: he who outrages righteousness is called a villain. I have heard of the cutting off of the villain Chow, but I have not heard of the putting of a ruler to death.

Mencius
Benevolence is the tranquil habitation of man, and righteousness is his straight path.

Mencius