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Chu Zi asked Mencius: “The king sent someone to secretly observe you – does he really have any qualities that make him different from ordinary people?”
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Yu the Great and Hou Ji lived in times of peace. Yu passed by his own home three times while controlling floods but never entered; Hou Ji tirelessly taught farming to feed the people. Confucius praised them.
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Mencius said: “What distinguishes the noble person from ordinary people lies in what they hold in their heart. The noble person keeps benevolence and ritual propriety in mind. One who embodies benevolence loves others; one who embodies ritual respects others. Those who love others are constantly loved in return; those who respect others are…
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Mencius said: “The difference between humans and birds or beasts is extremely slight – just a tiny bit. Ordinary people tend to lose this small distinction, while noble persons preserve it. Shun understood the principles of all things and clearly discerned human relationships. He acted from benevolence and righteousness, not merely performing benevolence and…
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Mencius said: “One studies broadly and explains in detail, precisely in order to return to a concise and essential understanding.”
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Mencius said: “The noble person pursues deep learning through the proper Way, aiming to attain understanding on their own. When one truly grasps it from within, they can dwell in it with peace; dwelling in it with peace leads to profound accumulation; and with profound accumulation, one can draw upon it freely and abundantly…
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Mencius said: “A truly noble person is one who has not lost the heart of a newborn child.”
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Mencius said: “The essence of ren (benevolence) is serving one’s parents;the essence of yi (righteousness) is following one’s elder brothers.The essence of zhi (wisdom) is understanding these two and never abandoning them;the essence of li (ritual propriety) is giving them proper form and refinement;the essence of yue (music/joy) is delighting in these two –and…
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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.”