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Mencius Quotes

372 BC–302 BC China

Mencius [孟子; Mèng Zǐ; Meng Tzu; Zhuyin Fuhao: ㄇㄥˋ ㄗˇ] (372 – 289 BC, or perhaps 385 – 303/302 BC) is one of the most famous Confucian philosophers.

China
Philosophers

Also known as: Meng-tzu

Random Mencius quote

35 quotes

The way of learning is none other than finding the lost mind.

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

The great man is the one who does not lose his child's heart.

The great man is he who does not lose his child's heart.

Having these Four Beginnings, but saying that they cannot develop them is to destroy themselves.

A great man is he who has not lost the heart of a child.

If the prince of a State love benevolence, he will have no opponent in all the empire.

Before a man can do things there must be things he will not do.

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.

The sense of mercy is found in all men; the sense of right and wrong is found in all men.

Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?

They who accord with Heaven are preserved, and they who rebel against Heaven perish.

There is no greater delight than to be conscious of sincerity on self-examination.

Most precious are the people; next come the spirits of land and grain; and last, the kings.

If the king loves music, there is little wrong in the land.

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.

Those who are humane achieve glory. Those who are inhumane suffer disgrace.

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.

Sincerity is the way of Heaven

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.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Mencius (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.