•
Mencius said: “Jie of Xia and Zhou of Shang lost the empire because they lost the people;and they lost the people because they lost their hearts.”
•
Wan Zhang asked Mencius: “Song is a small state. If it now implements kingly governance (benevolent governance), and Qi and Chu resent it and attack – what should it do?”
•
Mencius said: “He who uses force under the guise of benevolence achieves hegemony. Hegemony requires a great state. But he who practices benevolence through virtue achieves true kingship – and kingship does not depend on size. King Tang ruled with only seventy li of territory; King Wen with only a hundred li.”
•
Gongsun Chou asked Mencius, “If you should hold the power of government in Qi, could you achieve great deeds like Guan Zhong and Yanzi?”
•
Mencius went to see King Hui of Liang, who stood by a pond, gazing at the swans, geese, elks and deer, and said, “Do virtuous men also take delight in such scenes?”
•
Mencius went to see King Hui of Liang, who said, “Venerable sir, you have traveled a thousand miles to see me – surely you must have some way to benefit my state?”