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

Mencius

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
Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.
MENCIUS

Evil Heaven Men Reality
The way of learning is none other than finding the lost mind.
MENCIUS

Lost Mindset Way
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
He who loves others is constantly loved by them. He who respects others is constantly respected by them.
MENCIUS

Himself Love Respect
It is not difficult to govern. All one has to do is not to offend the noble families.
MENCIUS

Authority Difficult Family Government
The disease of men is that they neglect their own fields and go to weed the fields of others.
MENCIUS

Avoid Destroy Hate Man
Sincerity is the way to heaven.
MENCIUS

Heaven Sincere
All people have the common desire to be elevated in honour, but all people have something still more elevated in themselves without knowing it.
MENCIUS

Deep Desire People Philosophy
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
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 sole concern of learning is to seek one’s original heart.
MENCIUS

Heart Learning Seek
He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his nature.
MENCIUS

Himself Mind Nature
Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.
MENCIUS

Ability Character Men
Only when someone refuses to do certain things will he be capable of doing great things.
MENCIUS

Capability Greatness Inspirational

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

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

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