Mencius Quotes
Mengzi, conventionally known in the West as Mencius, was a Chinese Confucian philosopher of the fourth century BC, traditionally regarded as the second sage of the Confucian tradition after Confucius himself. His teachings, recorded in the book that bears his name, develop the central Confucian themes of moral cultivation and right government with particular emphasis on the original goodness of human nature. The quotes below are attributed to Mencius, organized by topic.
Mencius on God
-
Attributed to Mencius:
“Heaven sees with the eyes of its people; Heaven hears with the ears of its people.”
Mencius on Love
-
Attributed to Mencius:
“If you love others and they don't love you, look at your own benevolence.”
-
Attributed to Mencius:
“Friends are the brothers God never gave us.”
Mencius on Mind
-
Attributed to Mencius:
“All things are already complete in oneself.”
-
Attributed to Mencius:
“He who exerts his mind to the utmost knows his nature.”
Mencius on Virtue
-
Attributed to Mencius:
“The great man is he who does not lose his child's-heart.”
-
Attributed to Mencius:
“Benevolence is man's heart, righteousness is man's path.”
-
Attributed to Mencius:
“The feeling of compassion is the beginning of benevolence; the feeling of shame is the beginning of righteousness; the feeling of deference is the beginning of propriety; the feeling of right and wrong is the beginning of wisdom.”
-
Attributed to Mencius:
“Try the difficult things while they are easy; do the great things while they are small.”