When Qi suffers famine, people expect Mencius to urge the king to open granaries again. He uses Feng Fu’s story: the ex-tiger fighter reverted to old deeds to please villagers, yet other scholars mocked him, showing Mencius sticks to his official retreat principles.
Gaozi claims Yu’s music surpasses King Wen’s, citing worn bell clappers as proof. Mencius refutes him with deep gate ruts—wear stems from long use, not superior quality, warning against hasty judgments based on superficial traces.
Mencius uses mountain trails as a metaphor to warn disciple Gaozi: constant practice clears one’s moral mind, yet neglect lets weeds of desire block it. He reminds people to sustain unceasing self-cultivation to avoid spiritual stagnation.
Mencius stresses self-clarity first: virtuous people gain full understanding themselves before enlightening others. He criticizes those confused yet eager to guide others, highlighting self-cultivation as the foundation of teaching and governance.
Disciple He Ji grieves over widespread slander. Mencius consoles him that such gossip harms nothing, citing two Book of Songs verses: even Confucius and King Wen endured petty men’s resentment yet retained their noble reputations.
Mencius explains Confucius’ starvation plight between Chen and Cai stemmed from lacking ties with local rulers and common folk. It shows virtuous gentlemen endure hardship without political support yet should cling firmly to moral principles amid chaotic times.
Mencius contrasts Confucius’ departures: he left his native Lu slowly out of deep affection, yet fled Qi hastily with uncooked rice. This shows Confucian flexible propriety—tender sentiment for homeland, decisive sense for foreign states.
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.
Mencius regards Boyi and Liuxia Hui as timeless sage-teachers. Boyi’s integrity purifies greedy, cowardly souls; Liuxia Hui’s tolerance softens petty, narrow minds. Their moral spirit inspires people hundreds of generations later.