Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.
MENCIUSHe who loves others is constantly loved by them. He who respects others is constantly respected by them.
More Mencius Quotes
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When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit because their strength is not adequate to resist.
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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.
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The gap between enthusiasm and indifference is filled with failures. The great man is he that does not lose his child’s heart.
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The myriad things are complete in us. There is no greater joy than to reflect on ourselves and become sincere.
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One who believes all of a book would be better off without books.
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Benevolence is one of the distinguishing characters of man.
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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.
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Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.
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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.
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Only those who develop their minds and spirits to the utmost can serve Heaven and fulfill their own destinies.
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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.
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Only when someone refuses to do certain things will he be capable of doing great things.
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Friendship is one mind in two bodies.
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By exhaustively examining one’s own mind,one may understand his nature. One who understands his own nature understands Heaven.
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Is it only the mouth and belly which are injured by hunger and thirst? Men’s minds are also injured by them.
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The way is near, but men seek it afar. It is in easy things, but men seek for it in difficult things.
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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.
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If the prince of a State love benevolence, he will have no opponent in all the empire.
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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.
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The people turn in allegiance to Humanity, as surely as water flows downward or as a wild animal takes cover in the wilderness.
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Human nature is good, just as water seeks low ground. There is no man who is not good, just as there is no water that does not flow downward.
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Friends are the siblings God never gave us.
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Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.
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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.
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Where it is permissible both to die and not to die, it is an abuse of valour to die.
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I dislike death, however, there are some things I dislike more than death. Therefore, there are times when I will not avoid danger.
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