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Attributed quotes — Mencius

372 BC–302 BC China

← All quotes by Mencius

15 quotes

A real man is he whose goodness is a part of himself.

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

The principles of great men illuminate the universe.

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

It would be better to be without the Shu-King than to believe every word of it.

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

The feeling of distress is the root of benevolence, therefore a benevolent man is ever mindful of those who are suffering and in distress.

Attributed

The great end of learning is nothing else but to seek for the lost mind.

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

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

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

Never has there been one possessed of complete sincerity who did not move others. Never has there been one who had not sincerity who was able to move others.

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

At forty, I had attained the unperturbed mind.

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

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

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

The virtues are not poured into us, they are natural. Seek, and you will find them: neglect, and you will lose them.

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

There are many services, but the service of parents is the root of all others. There are many charges, but charge of one’s self is the root of all others.

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

How lamentable is it to neglect the path and not pursue it, to lose the mind and not know to seek it again! When men’s fowls and dogs are lost, they know to seek for them again, but they lose their mind and do not know to seek for it.

Attributed

Benevolence brings under its sway whatever hinders its power, just as water subdues fire: they only doubt the power of water to quench flames who try to extinguish with a cupful a whole burning wagon-load of fagots.

Attributed

A man with definite aims to be accomplished may be compared to one digging a well. To dig the well to the depth of seventy-two cubits and stop without reachin the spring is, after all, throwing away the well.

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

Tsze-Kung asked Confucius, saying, "Master, are you a sage?" Confucius answered him: "A sage is what I cannot rise to. I learn without satiety, and teach without being tired." Tsze-Kung said: "You learn without satiety: that shows your wisdom. You teach without being tired: that shows your benevolence. Benevolent and wise:— Master, you are a sage."

Attributed Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient (1882)

Attribution

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