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Quotes from Pebbles, Pearls and Gems of the Orient — Mencius

372 BC–302 BC China

← All quotes by Mencius

12 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 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)

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.