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.
Confucius criticizes hypocrites who look stern yet cowardly inside, comparing them to sneaky wall thieves. He stresses sincerity and consistency between inner virtue and outward bearing, condemning hollow posturing that lacks genuine moral fortitude.
The Master said, “The noble person cannot be fully known through small matters, yet can be entrusted with great responsibilities; the petty person cannot be entrusted with great responsibilities, yet can be understood through small matters.”
The Master said, “A thoroughbred horse is praised not for its strength, but for its virtue.”
The Master said, “Meng Gongchuo would be more than capable as a senior counselor to the Zhao or Wei families of Jin, but he would not be suited to serve as a chief minister of small states like Teng or Xue.”
The Master said, “A person of virtue will surely have meaningful words; but one who has words is not necessarily virtuous. A humane (benevolent) person will surely possess courage; but a courageous person is not necessarily humane.”
The Master said, “Firmness, resoluteness, simplicity, and cautious speech—these qualities bring one close to benevolence/humaneness.”