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Mencius – Chapter 14.12
Mencius lays out three pillars of stable governance: trust virtuous officials to sustain the nation, uphold ritual and righteousness to keep social order, and attend to state affairs to guarantee adequate public finance.
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Mencius – Chapter 14.11
Mencius criticizes fame-driven hypocrites. Such people may surrender a large kingdom for good repute, yet reveal greed and discontent over trivial food gains, showing hollow virtue fails small, unobserved tests.
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Mencius – Chapter 14.10
Mencius draws a parallel: ample wealth safeguards people through famines, while abundant inner virtue shields one from moral confusion amid chaotic, corrupt eras, highlighting spiritual cultivation as humanity’s lasting anchor.
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Mencius – Chapter 14.9
Mencius stresses self-exemplification. If one fails to live by the moral Way, even his spouse and children won’t follow it; commanding others against the Way makes one’s orders unheeded at home, proving self-cultivation is the root of leadership.
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Mencius – Chapter 14.8
Mencius contrasts ancient and modern border checkpoints. Originally built to fend off bandits and shield civilians, they now serve as tools for rulers to tax and oppress common folk, exposing corrupted state power against people’s interests.
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Mencius – Chapter 14.7
Mencius warns against slaying others’ kin. Killing someone’s father or brother triggers retaliation against your own family. Though you do not kill your relatives personally, the tragic outcome barely differs from direct murder.