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Mencius – Chapter 8.33 Hollow ambition and the Moral shame
In the state of Qi, there was a man who lived with one wife and one concubine. Every time he went out, he always returned home full of wine and meat. His wife asked him, “Who did you eat and drink with?” He always replied, “All wealthy and noble people.”
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Mencius – Chapter 8.32 No halo on the Sage
Chu Zi asked Mencius: “The king sent someone to secretly observe you – does he really have any qualities that make him different from ordinary people?”
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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.