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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

The feeling of right or wrong is the beginning of wisdom.
MENCIUS

Beginning Feeling Right Wisdom Wrong
The regular path of virtue is to be pursued without any bend, and from no view to emolument.
MENCIUS

Path View Virtue
The sole concern of learning is to seek one’s original heart.
MENCIUS

Heart Learning Seek
The ways are two: love and want of love. That is all.
MENCIUS

Compassion Love
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
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
Friendship is one mind in two bodies.
MENCIUS

Body Friendship Oneself
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 great man is he who does not lose his child’s heart.
MENCIUS

Children Greatness Heart Man Wisdom
Benevolence is one of the distinguishing characters of man.
MENCIUS

Character Kindness Men
If the prince of a State love benevolence, he will have no opponent in all the empire.
MENCIUS

Enemy Government Love
He who wishes to be benevolent will not be rich.
MENCIUS

Choice Himself Rich
Those who follow the part of themselves which is great are great men; those who follow the part which is little are little men.
MENCIUS

Greatness Men
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
A man must not be without shame, for the shame of being without shame is shamelessness indeed.
MENCIUS

Character Existence Men Shame
Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.
MENCIUS

Honesty Time Truth

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.

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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.

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