I like fish, and I also like bear's paws. If I cannot have the two together, I will let the fish go, and take the bear's paws. So, I like life, and I also like righteousness. If I cannot keep the two together, I will let life go, and choose righteousness.

- Mencius

Let men decide firmly what they will not do, and they will be free to do vigorously what they ought to do.

- Mencius

Without effective protection of the citizens' right to property, it will be difficult to attract and accumulate valuable capital.

- Mencius

Friendship with a man is friendship with his virtue.

- Mencius

A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time.

- Mencius

Secure property in hand leads to peace in mind.

- Mencius

The root of the kingdom is in the state. The root of the state is in the family. The root of the family is in the person of its head.

- Mencius

If Confucius wasn't born, the long night would have no bright lamp.

- Mencius

Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.

- Mencius

Only when a man will not do some things is he capable of doing great things.

- Mencius

Let not a man do what his sense of right bids him not to do, nor desire what it forbids him to desire. This is sufficient. The skillful artist will not alter his measures for the sake of a stupid workman.

- Mencius

Truth uttered before its time is always dangerous.

- Mencius

It is not difficult to govern. All one has to do is not to offend the noble families.

- Mencius

Friends are the siblings God never gave us.

- Mencius

People can have a long-term life plan only if they know their private property is secure.

- Mencius

Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.

- Mencius

There is no greater delight than to be conscious of sincerity on self-examination.

- Mencius

Evil exists to glorify the good. Evil is negative good. It is a relative term. Evil can be transmuted into good. What is evil to one at one time, becomes good at another time to somebody else.

- Mencius

Sincerity is the way to heaven.

- Mencius

The great man is he who does not lose his child's-heart.

- Mencius