Mencius divides people into two types: ordinary folks wait for sage King Wen to inspire them, while heroic moral scholars forge ahead independently. It highlights inner initiative, urging intellectuals to uphold virtue without relying on favorable rulers.
Mencius observes most people follow the Way blindly: they act without grasping its meaning, stick to habits without reflection, and never truly understand the moral path they live by. He urges conscious self-awareness rather than mindless routine.