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Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.

Mencius

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
To feed men and not to love them is to treat them as if they were barnyard cattle. To love them and not respect them is to treat them as if they were household pets.
MENCIUS

Freedom Men Pet
I dislike death, however, there are some things I dislike more than death. Therefore, there are times when I will not avoid danger.
MENCIUS

Avoid Danger Death Myself
Every duty is a charge, but the charge of oneself is the root of all others.
MENCIUS

Duty Responsibility Roots
All things are complete within ourselves.
MENCIUS

One Liner Perfection
By exhaustively examining one’s own mind,one may understand his nature. One who understands his own nature understands Heaven.
MENCIUS

Heaven Mind Nature Understand
A small country cannot contend with a great; the few cannot contend with the many; the weak cannot contend with the strong.
MENCIUS

Country Greatness Strong Weakness
Human nature is disposed to do good.
MENCIUS

Goodness Human Nature One Liner Spirituality
The best things in life come in threes, like friends, dreams, and memories.
MENCIUS

Dream Friendship Life Material Memories
Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.
MENCIUS

Honesty Time Truth
A man must not be without shame, for the shame of being without shame is shamelessness indeed.
MENCIUS

Character Existence Men Shame
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
Never lose your child’s heart.
MENCIUS

Children Heart One Liner
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
He who wishes to be benevolent will not be rich.
MENCIUS

Choice Himself Rich

Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.

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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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