Both Mencius and Xunzi fully embraced the Master’s core beliefs: (1) that man can become a sage; (2) that moral goodness results from self-cultivation; (3) that learning is a part of the self-cultivation process; (4) that a vanguard elite is essential in promoting morality among the people; and (5) that good governance depends on the virtue of the ruler, who creates the right conditions whereby the people can become good and society can become harmonious.
