The feeling of right or wrong is the beginning of wisdom. Mencius More Quotes by Mencius More Quotes From Mencius The root of the kingdom is in the state. The root of the state is in the family. The root of the family is in the person of its head. Mencius states kingdoms roots Truth uttered before its time is dangerous. Mencius honesty truth time Virtue alone is not sufficient for the exercise of government; laws alone cannot carry themselves into practice. Mencius government law exercise 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 sincerity able moving To lay hold of the mean without taking into account the occasion is like grasping one thing only. Mencius grasping understanding mean Human nature is good, just as water seeks low ground. There is no man who is not good, just as there is no water that does not flow downward. Mencius humanity water men The way is One and only One. The way is close at hand, but men seek it afar. Mencius afar men hands 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 great-men littles men Incessant falls teach men to reform, and distress rouses their strength. Life springs from calamity, and death from ease. Mencius spring men fall The man of true greatness never loses his child's heart. Mencius greatness heart children Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not. Mencius evil men reality 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 knowing desire people Is it only the mouth and belly which are injured by hunger and thirst? Men's minds are also injured by them. Mencius mouths mind men The people turn in allegiance to Humanity, as surely as water flows downward or as a wild animal takes cover in the wilderness. Mencius animal water people If you know that a thing is unrighteous, then use all dispatch in putting an end to it--why wait till next year? Mencius evil waiting years He who outrages benevolence is called a ruffian: he who outrages righteousness is called a villain. I have heard of the cutting off of the villain Chow, but I have not heard of the putting of a ruler to death. Mencius ruffian villain cutting The five kinds of grains are considered good plants, but if the grains are not ripe, they are worse than cockles. It is the same with regard to kindness, which must grow into maturity. Mencius maturity compassion kindness Water indeed will flow indifferently to the east or west, but will it flow indifferently up or down? The tendency of our nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downwards. There are none but have this tendency to good, just as all water flows downward. Mencius east flow water The regular path of virtue is to be pursued without any bend, and from no view to emolument. Mencius virtue path views The great man is he who does not loose his child's heart. Mencius
