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Incessant falls teach men to reform, and distress rouses their strength. Life springs from calamity, and death from ease.

Mencius

Every duty is a charge, but the charge of oneself is the root of all others.
MENCIUS

Duty Responsibility Roots
To act without clear understanding, to form habits without investigation, to follow a path all one’s life without knowing where it really leads; such is the behavior of the multitude.
MENCIUS

Act Ignorance Leadership Life Understand
The people turn in allegiance to Humanity, as surely as water flows downward or as a wild animal takes cover in the wilderness.
MENCIUS

Animal Humanity People Water Wild
The feeling of right or wrong is the beginning of wisdom.
MENCIUS

Beginning Feeling Right Wisdom Wrong
Sincerity is the way to heaven.
MENCIUS

Heaven Sincere
The myriad things are complete in us. There is no greater joy than to reflect on ourselves and become sincere.
MENCIUS

Happiness Joy Reflection Sincere
The Way lies at hand yet it is sought afar off; the thing lies in the easy yet it is sought in the difficult.
MENCIUS

Difficult Hands Lying Warrior
The foundation of the world lies in the nation. The foundation of the nation lies in the family. The foundation of the family lies in the individual.
MENCIUS

Confidence Family Foundation Nation World
He who loves others is constantly loved by them. He who respects others is constantly respected by them.
MENCIUS

Himself Love Respect
To lay hold of the mean without taking into account the occasion is like grasping one thing only.
MENCIUS

Oneself Understand
Listen to a man’s words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character?
MENCIUS

Character Eyes Hide Men Word
The way is near, but men seek it afar. It is in easy things, but men seek for it in difficult things.
MENCIUS

Easy Men Philosophy Seek Way
The ways are two: love and want of love. That is all.
MENCIUS

Compassion Love
Friends are the siblings God never gave us.
MENCIUS

Friendship God
The feeling of compassion is the beginning of humanity.
MENCIUS

Compassion Feeling Humanity
There is a power in everything; it is the job of the artist to determine it and express it.
MENCIUS

Artist Job Power

Incessant falls teach men to reform, and distress rouses their strength. Life springs from calamity, and death from ease.

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Incessant falls teach men to reform, and distress rouses their strength. Life springs from calamity, and death from ease.

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Popular Authors

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