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He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his nature.

Mencius

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

Ability Character Men
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
He who wishes to be benevolent will not be rich.
MENCIUS

Choice Himself Rich
Is it only the mouth and belly which are injured by hunger and thirst? Men’s minds are also injured by them.
MENCIUS

Food Hunger Injury Men Mindset
The Tao is near and people seek it far away.
MENCIUS

Effort People Spiritual
The regular path of virtue is to be pursued without any bend, and from no view to emolument.
MENCIUS

Path View Virtue
Only when someone refuses to do certain things will he be capable of doing great things.
MENCIUS

Capability Greatness Inspirational
Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.
MENCIUS

Kindness Men Reputation
All things are complete within ourselves.
MENCIUS

One Liner Perfection
The way of truth is like a great highway. It is not hard to find.
MENCIUS

Path Philosophy Truth Way
The way is near, but men seek it afar. It is in easy things, but men seek for it in difficult things.
MENCIUS

Easy Men Philosophy Seek Way
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
If you know that a thing is unrighteous, then use all dispatch in putting an end to it–why wait till next year?
MENCIUS

End Evil Wait Years
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
Where it is permissible both to die and not to die, it is an abuse of valour to die.
MENCIUS

Death Freedom
People are eager to comment on something when they themselves are not in the situation of doing it.
MENCIUS

Advice People Talk

He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his nature.

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He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his nature.

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