To lay hold of the mean without taking into account the occasion is like grasping one thing only.
MENCIUSOnly when someone refuses to do certain things will he be capable of doing great things.
More Mencius Quotes
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In abundance prepare for scarcity.
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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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A man must first despise himself, and then others will despise him.
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All people have the common desire to be elevated in honour, but all people have something still more elevated in themselves without knowing it.
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He who loves others is always loved by them, and he who respects others is always respected by them.
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The sole concern of learning is to seek one’s original heart.
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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.
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Sincerity is the way to heaven; to think how to be sincere is the way of man.
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To feed men and not to love them is to treat them as if they were barnyard cattle. To love them and not respect them is to treat them as if they were household pets.
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Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice.
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The feeling of compassion is the beginning of humanity.
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Human nature is disposed to do good.
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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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He who wishes to be benevolent will not be rich.
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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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