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

Mencius

Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue, and does not admit of assumptions of superiority.
MENCIUS

Character Friendship Men
Where it is permissible both to die and not to die, it is an abuse of valour to die.
MENCIUS

Death Freedom
Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.
MENCIUS

Evil Heaven Men Reality
Let not a man do what his sense of right bids him not to do, nor desire what it forbids him to desire. This is sufficient. The skillful artist will not alter his measures for the sake of a stupid workman.
MENCIUS

Artist Desire Men Stupidity
The great man is he who does not lose his child’s heart.
MENCIUS

Children Greatness Heart Man Wisdom
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 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 tendency of mans nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downward.
MENCIUS

Flow Human Nature Water
So I like life and I like righteousness; if I cannot keep the two together, I will let life go and choose righteousness.
MENCIUS

Choice Justice Right Togetherness
He who wishes to be benevolent will not be rich.
MENCIUS

Choice Himself Rich
The great person never loses a childlike spirit.
MENCIUS

Attitude Greatness Person Spirit
The great man does not think beforehand of his words that they may be sincere, nor of his actions that they may be resolute- he simply speaks and does what is right.
MENCIUS

Inspirational Men Simplicity Thinking
Never lose your child’s heart.
MENCIUS

Children Heart One Liner
Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.
MENCIUS

Ability Character Men
Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.
MENCIUS

Honesty Time Truth
Heaven sees as the people see. Heaven hears as the people hear.
MENCIUS

Equality Heaven People See

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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