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Mencius – Chapter 8.6 Beyond appearances: Authentic ritual, genuine righteousness
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Mencius said: “Rituals that are not truly ritual, and righteousness that is not truly righteous – these are things a noble person will never do.”
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Mencius – Chapter 8.4 Moral Autonomy: the right to withdraw
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Mencius said: “If a ruler executes scholar-officials without just cause, then high ministers may leave the state.If a ruler massacres common people without guilt, then scholar-officials (educated individuals) may relocate to another country.”
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Mencius – Chapter 8.3 Reciprocity over obedience: Conditional loyalty
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Mencius said to King Xuan of Qi: “If a ruler treats his ministers as his own hands and feet, they will treat him as their heart and mind.If he treats them like dogs or horses, they will regard him as a mere stranger.If he treats them like dust or weeds – worthless and disposable…
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Mencius – Chapter 8.2 Institutional Benevolence over Personal Kindness
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Zichan (Zi Chan), while governing the state of Zheng, once used his own carriage to ferry people across the Zhen and Wei rivers.