Alex’s Reviews > Mencius > Status Update

I must admit that I don't get the deal with the righteous villager.

"Mencius said: “Only now have I realized the true gravity of killing a man’s family members. If you kill his father, he’ll kill your father. If you kill his brother, he’ll kill your brother. There’s precious little difference between that and killing your father or brother with your own hands.”"

"Mencius said: “Emperor Hui of Liang was utterly Inhumane. The Humane extend their love to those they hate. The Inhumane inflict their hatred on those they love.”"

"Mencius said: “When all beneath Heaven abides in the Way, people use the Way to find themselves. When all beneath Heaven ignores the Way, people use themselves to find the Way. I never hear of using the Way to find the human anymore.”"

"Mencius said: “To feed people without showing them love – that is to treat them like pigs. To love people without showing them reverence – that is to keep them like pets. But honor and reverence are gifts not yet given. Honor and reverence without substance – you can’t lure the noble-minded with such empty gestures.”"

"Mencius said: “Humanity overcomes Inhumanity the way water overcomes fire. But when people wield Humanity these days, it’s like they’re throwing a cup of water on a cartload of burning firewood. When the fire keeps burning, they claim water can’t overcome fire. This is the promotion of Inhumanity at its worst, and such people come to nothing but ruin in the end.”"

"Mencius said: “When you speak of the virtues another lacks, think of the trials you may yet endure.”"

""And besides, do you feed people for their motives or their work?”
“For their motives.”
“So if there’s a man flinging mortar around and smashing tiles, and his motive is rice, do you feed him?”
“No.”
“Then you don’t feed people for their motives; you feed them for their work.”"
Mencius sure knew how to talk to communists.

Mencius refutes both the idea that we mustn't love our parents or other family members more than any other random person, and the idea that prices for things of the same kind should be decreed to be equal.

"In ancient times, when Emperor Wen ruled Ch’i5 – farmers were taxed one part in nine, descendants of worthy officials were insured a livelihood, there were inspections at border crossings and markets but no taxes, fish traps were not regulated, criminals were punished but not their families."