Mencius

The feeling of right or wrong is the beginning of wisdom

All beneath Heaven is rooted in nation. Nation is rooted in family. And family is rooted in self.

For nurturing the mind, there’s nothing like paring your desires away to a very few. If you have few desires, there may still be some capricious whims in your mind, but they’ll be few. If you have many desires, there may be some enduring principles in your mind, but they’ll be few indeed.

The great man does not think beforehand of his words that they may be sincere, nor of his actions that they may be resolute; — he simply speaks and does what is right.

All the children who are held and loved...will know how to love others. Spread these virtues in the world. Nothing more need be done.

All tongues savor the same flavors, all ears hear the same music, and all eyes see the same beauty.

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.

If someone stops where they should not, they’ll stop anywhere. If someone slights a person they should treat generously, they’ll slight anyone. And if someone races ahead, they retreat in a hurry.

Before a man can do things there must be things he will not do.

Je lepší nemít žádné knihy, než věřit všemu, co je v nich napsáno.

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

A great man is he who has not lost the heart of a child.

There are things a person wants more than life and there are also things he or she loathes more than death.

Those with cringing postures and flattering smiles work harder than those who till the fields in summer.

The feeling of commiseration is the beginning of humanity; the feeling of shame and dislike is the beginning of righteousness; the feeling of deference and compliance is the beginning of propriety; and the feeling of right or wrong is the beginning of wisdom. Men have these Four Beginnings just as they have their four limbs. Having these Four Beginnings, but saying that they cannot develop them is to destroy themselves.