If the king loves music, there is little wrong in the land.

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

The virtues are not poured into us, they are natural. Seek, and you will find them: neglect, and you will lose them.

At forty, I had attained the unperturbed mind.

A real man is he whose goodness is a part of himself.

The principles of great men illuminate the universe.

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.

Benevolence is the tranquil habitation of man, and righteousness is his straight path.

It would be better to be without the Shu-King than to believe every word of it.

Most precious are the people; next come the spirits of land and grain; and last, the kings.

The superior man has three things in which he delights, and to be ruler over the kingdom is not one of them. That his father and mother are both alive, and that the condition of his brothers affords no cause for anxiety;-this is one delight. That, when looking up, he has no occasion for shame before Heaven, and, below, he has no occasion to blush before men;-this is a second delight. That he can get from the whole kingdom the most talented individuals, and teach and nourish them;-this is the third delight.

Mencius went to see King Huei of Liang. The king said, "Venerable sir, since you have not counted it far to come here, a distance of a thousand li, may I presume that you are provided with counsels to profit my kingdom?" Mencius replied, "Why must your Majesty use that word "profit"? What I am provided with, are counsels to benevolence and righteousness, and these are my only topics.

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.

Those who are humane achieve glory. Those who are inhumane suffer disgrace.

The great man is the one who does not lose his child's heart.

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.

The sense of mercy is found in all men; the sense of shame is found in all men; the sense of respect is found in all men; the sense of right and wrong is found in all men.

The way of learning is none other than finding the lost mind.

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

Tsze-Kung asked Confucius, saying, "Master, are you a sage?" Confucius answered him: "A sage is what I cannot rise to. I learn without satiety, and teach without being tired." Tsze-Kung said: "You learn without satiety: that shows your wisdom. You teach without being tired: that shows your benevolence. Benevolent and wise:- Master, you are a sage."