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Listen to a man’s words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character?

Mencius

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
Men must be decided on what they will not do, and then they are able to act with vigor in what they ought to do.
MENCIUS

Decision Men Vigor
Benevolence is one of the distinguishing characters of man.
MENCIUS

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

Enemy Government Love
A man must first despise himself, and then others will despise him.
MENCIUS

Hate Men
When Heaven is about to confer a great office upon you, it first exercises your mind with suffering and your sinews and bones with toil.
MENCIUS

Greatness Heaven Suffering
Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.
MENCIUS

Ability Character Men
He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his nature.
MENCIUS

Himself Mind Nature
Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.
MENCIUS

Honesty Time Truth
He who wishes to be benevolent will not be rich.
MENCIUS

Choice Himself Rich
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
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
People are eager to comment on something when they themselves are not in the situation of doing it.
MENCIUS

Advice People Talk
Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence.
MENCIUS

Inspirational Yourself
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

Listen to a man’s words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character?

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Listen to a man’s words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character?

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