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Mencius – Chapter 7.28 Shun’s great filial piety transforms the world
Mencius said: “When the whole world is delighted and ready to submit to him, Shun regarded this universal acclaim as lightly as a blade of grass or a speck of dust. Only Shun could do this.”
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Mencius – Chapter 7.27 The roots of virtue
Mencius said: “The essence of ren (benevolence) is serving one’s parents;the essence of yi (righteousness) is following one’s elder brothers.The essence of zhi (wisdom) is understanding these two and never abandoning them;the essence of li (ritual propriety) is giving them proper form and refinement;the essence of yue (music/joy) is delighting in these two –and…
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Mencius – Chapter 7.26 Ritual flexibility and Moral prioritization in the case of Shun
Mencius said: “There are three forms of unfilial conduct, and the gravest is having no descendants.Shun married without informing his parents precisely to avoid this greatest unfilial act.Therefore, the noble person considers it as if he had informed them.”
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Mencius – Chapter 7.25 Scholarly vocation vs. Moral compromise
Mencius said to Yuezheng Zi (Yuezheng Ke): “Your coming here with Zi Ao is merely for the sake of food and drink.I never expected that someone who has studied the ancient Way would stoop to seeking just a meal!”
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Mencius – Chapter 7.24 The urgency of reverence
Yuezheng Zi (Yuezheng Ke) had come to the state of Qi with Zi Ao (Wang Huan). Later, he went to visit Mencius.
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Mencius – Chapter 7.23 The failing of loving to be a teacher
Mencius said: “The trouble with people is that they love to act as teachers to others.”