Mencius

Philosopher

Mencius was a Chinese Confucian philosopher traditionally regarded as one of the most influential interpreters of Confucius. His teachings are preserved in the Mencius and emphasize benevolent governance and the moral cultivation of human nature.

Books by Mencius

Meng-tzu
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Mengzi
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Readings in classical Chinese philosophy
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Quotes by Mencius

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.
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A man must not be without shame, for the shame of being without shame is shamelessness indeed.
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A man must not be without shame, for the shame of being without shame is shamelessness indeed.
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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.
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He who attends to his greater self becomes a great man, and he who attends to his smaller self becomes a small man.
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Only when a man will not do some things is he capable of doing great things.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Friends are the siblings God never gave us.
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Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue.
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Sincerity is the way to heaven.
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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.
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There is the work of great men and there is the work of little men. Therefore it is said, 'Some labor with their minds and some labor with their strength. Those who labor with their minds govern others; those who labor with their strength are governed by others.'1 Those who are governed by others support them; those who govern them are supported by them. This is a universal principle.
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The five kinds of grains are considered good plants, but if the grains are not ripe, they are worse than cockles. It is the same with regard to kindness, which must grow into maturity.
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Listen to a man's words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character?
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The great man is one who never loses his child's heart.
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Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.
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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 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.
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The people turn in allegiance to Humanity, as surely as water flows downward or as a wild animal takes cover in the wilderness.
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