Mencius Quotes

Philosopher

Mencius, also known as Meng Ke, was a renowned philosopher during the Warring States period of ancient China. He was one of the key figures in the Confucian school and his ideas on benevolent rule and people-centered governance had a profound impact on Chinese politics and culture.

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All Men Mind Ifs Way Heart Heaven Doe Great Men Humanity People Children Human Nature Knows Difficult Feelings Flow Goodness Loses Righteousness Two

Famous Mencius Quotes

“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.”

Men Humans Doe Humanity Water Human Nature Goodness Lows Flow

Author:Mencius

“The tendency of mans nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downward.”

Water Human Nature Flow Tendencies

Book:The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and Notes

Source: The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and Notes

“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.”

Water Goodness Flow West East Tendencies

Book:The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and Notes

Source: The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and Notes

“It is true that water will flow indifferently to east and west, but will it flow equally well up and down? Human nature is disposed toward goodness, just as water tends to flow downwards. There is no water but flows downwards, and no man but shows his tendency to be good. Now, by striking water hard, you may splash it higher than your forehead, and by damming it, you may make it go uphill. But, is that the nature of water? It is external force that causes it to do so. Likewise, if a man is made to do what is not good, his nature is being similarly forced.”

Ifs Men Humans Wells May Made Hard Shows Force Causes Water Human Nature Higher Goodness Flow West East Be Good Tendencies Up And Down Foreheads East And West External Forces

Author:Mencius

“The people turn in allegiance to Humanity, as surely as water flows downward or as a wild animal takes cover in the wilderness.”

People Humanity Turns Water Animal Flow Wilderness Allegiance Wild Animal

Author:Mencius

About the Author

Born: 372 BC
Died: 289 BC
Known for: Philosopher
Quotes: 105

Books & Sources

The Chinese ClassicsRelated source material

The Life and Works of Mencius: With Essays and NotesRelated source material

MenciusRelated source material

The works of menciusRelated source material

Lun YüRelated source material

The Book of Mencius: (abridged)Related source material

The Chinese classics with a translation, critical and exegetical notes: prolegomena and copious indexesRelated source material

The four books: Confucian Analects, The great learning, The doctrine of the mean, and The works of Mencius. With English notes and translation by James LeggeRelated source material

中西四書Related source material

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