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Incessant falls teach men to reform, and distress rouses their strength. Life springs from calamity, and death from ease.

Mencius

Never has there been one possessed of complete sincerity who did not move others. Never has there been one who had not sincerity who was able to move others.
MENCIUS

Ability Change Sincere
It is not difficult to govern. All one has to do is not to offend the noble families.
MENCIUS

Authority Difficult Family Government
If you let people follow their feelings, they will be able to do good. This is what is meant by saying that human nature is good.
MENCIUS

Deep Feeling Human People Philosophy Spiritual
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
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
Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.
MENCIUS

Evil Heaven Men Reality
Benevolence is one of the distinguishing characters of man.
MENCIUS

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

Oneself Understand
If the King loves music, it is well with the land.
MENCIUS

King Land Music Rule
The Tao is near and people seek it far away.
MENCIUS

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

Beginning Feeling Right Wisdom Wrong
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
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
Friends are the siblings God never gave us.
MENCIUS

Friendship God
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

Incessant falls teach men to reform, and distress rouses their strength. Life springs from calamity, and death from ease.

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Incessant falls teach men to reform, and distress rouses their strength. Life springs from calamity, and death from ease.

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Popular Authors

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