SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

  • Mencius – Chapter 11.14

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    Ana

    Mencius distinguishes the body’s noble greater moral mind and base minor sensory desires. Those prioritizing physical cravings are petty men; those nurturing virtue are noble. Two gardening metaphors warn against sacrificing spiritual good for trivial bodily pleasures.

  • Mencius – Chapter 11.13

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    Ana

    Mencius observes people carefully nurture paulownia trees yet neglect cultivating their own moral minds. He laments this absurd imbalance, blaming careless unthinking, and urges people to prioritize nourishing their inner virtuous nature over tending external plants.

  • Mencius – Chapter 11.4

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    Ana

    Gaozi claims food and desire form human nature, benevolence springs from within while righteousness comes from external elders. Mencius refutes this with analogies, proving both virtues stem from inner moral hearts instead of outside stimuli.

  • Mencius – Chapter 11.20

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    Ana

    Mencius uses archery and carpentry metaphors. Master Yi demands full bow draws; master carpenters stick to compass and square. Moral cultivation likewise needs strict objective standards and the highest striving for perfect virtue.

  • Mencius – Chapter 11.19

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    Ana

    Mencius uses ripe grain as a metaphor: though grain seeds are superior, unripe grains are worse than weeds. Humans all possess innate benevolence, yet only consistent cultivation to fully mature one’s virtue yields genuine benevolence.

  • Mencius – Chapter 11.18

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    Ana

    Mencius states benevolence naturally defeats evil as water extinguishes fire. Many only make feeble moral efforts yet blame benevolence for failure, which sides with wickedness and leads to their own downfall eventually.