Mencius claims curbing excessive desires is the finest way to nurture one’s innate good heart. Few desires let people retain most original virtue, while rampant cravings dim one’s inherent moral nature, forming a core Confucian self-cultivation principle.
Chapter 55 teaches that true power arises from simplicity, naturalness, and harmony. It critiques humanity’s obsession with control and growth, urging a return to the infant’s wisdom: Live softly, trust innate rhythms, and let go of artificial striving.