Enriching Sayings of Mencius: A Collection of Words to Guide Your Life
Mencius, a philosopher active in 4th-century BCE China, left many famous sayings born of his deep insight and understanding of human nature.
Advocating the theory of innate goodness—that human nature is fundamentally good—Mencius taught the proper way to live as a human being.
His words still resonate with us today as we navigate modern life.
When you are troubled or uncertain, or when you feel you may lose sight of your path, please remember this article.
You will surely encounter words that become a source of support for your heart.
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Enriching Sayings of Mencius: A Collection of Life-Guiding Words (1–10)
Those who, with a smooth facade, curry favor with the world—these are the sycophants.Mencius
The famous saying meaning that hiding your true self and constantly conforming to society is the folly of a “Kyōgen” goes: “Those who ingratiate themselves with the world with a fawning air are Kyōgen.” A person who bends themselves to fit in with society is called a Kyōgen, and the teaching is that even if you only smooth things over on the surface, you won’t acquire true virtue.
Indeed, even in modern society, if you’re always reading others’ faces and suppressing your own opinions and actions, you can lose sight of who you really are.
However, this does not mean you can disregard others entirely and behave however you like, so be careful in how you interpret it.
Live with concern; die in peace.Mencius
The saying “Live in worry, die in ease” means that worries and troubles are necessary for living, and that soaking in a life of comfort leads to ruin.
We learn humility and caution precisely because we face worries and anxieties, but if we live too peacefully, we miss the chance to gain those lessons.
Though the words may sound counterintuitive at first, they contain a teaching that rings true.
When worries and anxieties arise, this quote reminds us to see them as opportunities for growth.
What a person can do without having learned it is innate ability. What a person knows without having deliberated is innate knowledge.Mencius
The famous saying means that the power to do good without being taught is called good ability, and the power to understand good without deliberation is called good knowledge: “What a person can do without learning is good ability; what a person knows without pondering is good knowledge.” Ryōchi-ryōnō (good knowledge and good ability) refers to the innate morality that people are born with.
It’s a characteristically Mencian idea aligned with the belief in the goodness of human nature.
Of course, inborn talents can go to waste if they aren’t cultivated, so it’s important to maintain an attitude of constant, unrelenting effort.
Mencius Quotes That Enrich the Heart: A Collection of Guiding Words for Life (11–20)
The wise person bears lifelong concerns, yet has no troubles of a single morning.Mencius
The saying, “A gentleman may carry lifelong worries, but has no anxieties of a single day,” means that a person of character does not get swayed by day-to-day misfortunes, even if they have concerns that endure throughout life.
Here, “lifelong worries” refers to the unease one feels when comparing oneself to the great figures of history and sensing one’s own immaturity; by comparison, the small troubles that arise each day are trivial.
Indeed, when faced with a great concern, minor worries scarcely matter.
In the same way, if you have a big dream or goal, this quote urges you to press on without being elated or dejected by small things.
To make a person’s words easy is only to avoid blame.Mencius
There’s a saying that means “people speak lightly because they’re unaware of their responsibility”: ‘What makes a person’s words cheap is nothing but their lack of accountability.’ As the phrase suggests, it’s a sharp message about failing to understand one’s own responsibility and the weight of one’s words.
We should think very carefully—especially the higher our position—about what impact telling others about something might have and how we ourselves will be perceived.
It’s precisely because we live in a social media age where it’s easy to broadcast our thoughts that this is a saying we should etch into our hearts.
Benevolence is the heart of a person, and righteousness is the path of a person.Mencius
The famous saying “Benevolence is the heart of a person, and righteousness is the path a person should walk” means that compassion constitutes one’s very heart, and right conduct is the way one ought to follow.
It seems to encapsulate Mencius’s doctrine of the innate goodness of human nature.
It teaches that truly human living is to always hold a compassionate heart and consistently act rightly.
In today’s world, where human connections are said to be thin, this is a quotation leaders—especially those guiding organizations—should keep in mind.
Timely opportunities are not as valuable as geographical advantage, and geographical advantage is not as valuable as human harmony.Mencius
Mencius, who as a political thinker prioritized the people and advocated a state centered on human virtue, taught that more important than timing or geographical advantage is the bond between people.
Amid the power struggles among many states during the Warring States period, he argued that what ultimately matters is cooperation among people.
This idea applies to modern society as well: even with favorable conditions or timing, success cannot be achieved without teamwork and trust.
It is a famous saying that conveys the truth that valuing human connections and working together yields the greatest strength in any situation.
