Mencius

Mencius (c. 390-289BC) is the Latinized name of the Chinese philosopher Meng-tzu also Meng K'o or Meng-zi, who is known as "The Second Sage" in the Chinese history. He was a celebrated Chinese sage, a disciple, some say a grandson, of Confucius. Many people consider him cofounder of Confucianism, though he was born a century after the death of Confucius. He was born in Tsou exact date of which is not known but he certainly lived around 372 BC.

He became Minister in state of Ch'i. After retirement from public life he turned to teaching and focused on need for humanitarianism and justice for the common people. He went up and down with his disciples from court to court in the country to persuade, particularly the ruling classes, to give heed to the words of wisdom, though in vain.

Mencius was much more interested in political theory and practice, and therefore he advocated social an political reform to end the miseries of the people. His pupils compiled his teachings after his death into The Book of Meng-tzu, which is full of practical instructions.

Wisdom & Quotes

• Listen to a man's words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character ?

- Meng- tzu

• 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.

- Meng-tzu

• The great man is one who never loses his child's heart.

- Meng-tzu

• When I nourish this great breath within me, all things are then complete within me.

- Meng-tzu, referring to Chi, or great vital spirit within

• The poor attend to their own virtue in solitude.

-Meng-tzu

• To act without clear understanding, to form habits without investigation, to follow a path all one's life without knowing where it really leads - such is the behaviour of multitude.

- Meng - tzu

• Heaven sees as the people see,

Heaven hears as the people hear.
- Shu Ching

• All things are complete within ourselves.
• When one by force subdues men, they do not submit to him in heart. They submit because their strength is not adequate to resist.
• To lay hold of the mean without taking into account the occasion is like grasping one thing only.
• The people turn in allegiance to Humanity, as surely as water flows downward or as a wild animal takes cover in wilderness
• If the king loves music , there is little wrong in the land.

- Discourses

Aristotle