Mencius said: “Everyone possesses a heart that cannot bear to see others suffer. The ancient sage-kings had this very ‘heart of not bearing the suffering of others,’ and thus they implemented policies that reflected that compassion.
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?”
8.8The Master said,”Let a man be first incited by the Songs, then given a firm footing by the study of ritual, and finally perfected by music.”
7.29 At Hu village the people were difficult to talk to. But an uncapped boy presented himself for an interview. The disciples were in two minds about showing him in.
7.26 The Master said, “A Divine Sage I cannot hope ever to meet; the most I can hope for is to meet a true gentleman.”
7.3 Confucius said: “Failure to cultivate virtue, neglect of deep learning, inability to pursue righteousness when recognized, and refusal to correct errors — these are my deepest concerns.”
5.3 Of Zijian he said, “A gentleman indeed is such a one as he! If the land of Lu were indeed without gentlemen, how could he have learnt this?”
4.11 The Master (Confucius) said, “Where gentlemen set their hearts upon virtue, the commoners set theirs upon the soil. Where gentlemen think only of punishments, the commoners think only of exemptions.”
3.16 The Master said, “The saying In archery it is not the hide that counts,For some men have more strength than others, is the way of the Ancients.”