Mencius defines benevolence as humanity’s essential nature. Integrated together, benevolence and humanity form the supreme Dao. This core idea anchors his theory of inherent goodness, holding that cultivating inner benevolence lets people grasp the universal truth.
3.3 Confucius said, “A man who is not benevolent, what can he have to do with ritual? A man who is not benevolent, what can he have to do with music?