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Mencius – Chapter 8.31 Role-based ethics: The shared virtue of Zengzi and Zisi
When Zengzi (Zeng Zi) lived in Wucheng, Yue invaders approached. Someone said to him, “The enemy is coming – why not leave?”
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Mencius – Chapter 8.30 Perils of moral criticism in families – hidden virtue of Kuang Zhang
Gong Du Zi (Gongdu Zi) asked Mencius: “Everyone in the state says Kuang Zhang is unfilial. Yet you not only associate with him but also treat him with great courtesy. May I ask why?”
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Mencius – Chapter 8.29 One heart, Different paths
Yu the Great and Hou Ji lived in times of peace. Yu passed by his own home three times while controlling floods but never entered; Hou Ji tirelessly taught farming to feed the people. Confucius praised them.
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Mencius – Chapter 8.28 The noble person’s lifelong concern: Self-reflection and Moral integrity
Mencius said: “What distinguishes the noble person from ordinary people lies in what they hold in their heart. The noble person keeps benevolence and ritual propriety in mind. One who embodies benevolence loves others; one who embodies ritual respects others. Those who love others are constantly loved in return; those who respect others are…
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Mencius – Chapter 8.26 Following inherent patterns, Not forcing the way
Mencius said: “When people in the world talk about ‘human nature’, they are really just talking about the ‘inherent patterns’ of things. And these patterns are fundamentally rooted in ‘natural course and inherent tendencies’. What we dislike about cleverness is that it often forces artificial interpretations. But if the wise acted like Yu the…