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Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.

Mencius

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

Alone Enough Exercise Government Law Practice Virtue
The ways are two: love and want of love. That is all.
MENCIUS

Compassion Love
Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.
MENCIUS

Evil Heaven Men Reality
Where it is permissible both to die and not to die, it is an abuse of valour to die.
MENCIUS

Death Freedom
Friendship is one mind in two bodies.
MENCIUS

Body Friendship Oneself
The gap between enthusiasm and indifference is filled with failures. The great man is he that does not lose his child’s heart.
MENCIUS

Children Failure Heart Men
Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.
MENCIUS

Honesty Time Truth
The way of truth is like a great road. It is not difficult to know it. The evil is only that men will not seek it.
MENCIUS

Difficult Evil Men Seek
A man must first despise himself, and then others will despise him.
MENCIUS

Hate Men
If you know that a thing is unrighteous, then use all dispatch in putting an end to it–why wait till next year?
MENCIUS

End Evil Wait Years
The path of duty lies in what is near, and men seek for it in what is remote; the work of duty lies in what is easy, and men seek for it in what is difficult.
MENCIUS

Easy Journey Lying Men Philosophy Seek Way
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
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
All things are already complete in us. There is no greater delight than to be conscious of right within us. If one strives to treat others as he would be treated by them, he shall not fail to come near the perfect life.
MENCIUS

Divine Failure Perfection Philosophy Right
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
People are eager to comment on something when they themselves are not in the situation of doing it.
MENCIUS

Advice People Talk

Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.

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Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.

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