black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

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

Mencius

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

Capability Greatness Inspirational
The great person never loses a childlike spirit.
MENCIUS

Attitude Greatness Person Spirit
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
Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.
MENCIUS

Honesty Time Truth
The sole concern of learning is to seek one’s original heart.
MENCIUS

Heart Learning Seek
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
The regular path of virtue is to be pursued without any bend, and from no view to emolument.
MENCIUS

Path View Virtue
A real man is he whose goodness is a part of himself.
MENCIUS

Goodness Man Reality
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
In abundance prepare for scarcity.
MENCIUS

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

Path Philosophy Truth Way
The myriad things are complete in us. There is no greater joy than to reflect on ourselves and become sincere.
MENCIUS

Happiness Joy Reflection Sincere
He who wishes to be benevolent will not be rich.
MENCIUS

Choice Himself Rich
All things are complete within ourselves.
MENCIUS

One Liner Perfection
Only those who develop their minds and spirits to the utmost can serve Heaven and fulfill their own destinies.
MENCIUS

Destiny Development Heaven Mindset
The foundation of the world lies in the nation. The foundation of the nation lies in the family. The foundation of the family lies in the individual.
MENCIUS

Confidence Family Foundation Nation World
When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit because their strength is not adequate to resist.
MENCIUS

Force Heart Men Power Resistance
The tendency of mans nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downward.
MENCIUS

Flow Human Nature Water
Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.
MENCIUS

Evil Heaven Men Reality
If the King loves music, it is well with the land.
MENCIUS

King Land Music Rule
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
Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.
MENCIUS

Ability Character Men
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
Evil exists to glorify the good. Evil is negative good. It is a relative term. Evil can be transmuted into good. What is evil to one at one time, becomes good at another time to somebody else.
MENCIUS

Deep Evil Goodness Negative Perspective Philosophy Spiritual
Friends are the siblings God never gave us.
MENCIUS

Friendship God
One who believes all of a book would be better off without books.
MENCIUS

Believe Book
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

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

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Mencius Quotes