Mencius said: “If you love others but they do not respond with closeness, reflect on whether your own benevolence is genuine.If you govern people but fail to bring order, reflect on whether your wisdom is sufficient.If you treat others with ritual propriety but receive no response, reflect on whether your reverence is sincere.”
Mencius said: “Zilu was delighted whenever someone pointed out his faults. Yu the Great would bow in gratitude whenever he heard wise and virtuous words.”
Mencius said: “Is the arrow-maker really less humane than the armor-maker?”
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.
8.5 Master Zeng said, “Clever, yet not ashamed to consult those less clever than himself; widely gifted, yet not ashamed to consult those with few gifts; having, yet seeming not to have; full, yet seeming empty; offended against, yet never contesting – long ago I had a friend whose ways were such as this.”
8.4 When Master Zeng was ill, Meng Jing came to see him.
8.3When Master Zeng was ill he summoned his disciples and said, “Free my feet, free my hands. The Songs (the Classic of Poetry) says：