From the Sacred “Works of Mencius,” Gong Sun Chou I, Part 1of 2

Considered as the basis of Chinese culture, Confucius’ teachings appealed to many Chinese philosophers after his passing. The most famous Confucian thinker was Mencius, who was regarded to be the true transmitter of Confucius’ teachings and was influential in the development of Confucianism up until the modern times. We now present excerpts of the sage wisdom of Confucius through the teachings of Mencius known as “The Works of Mencius” of “Mengzi.” “I venture to ask,” said Chou again, “wherein you, Master, surpass Gao.” Mencius told him, “I understand words. I am skillful in nourishing my vast, flowing passion-nature. This is the passion-nature: It is exceedingly great, and exceedingly strong. Being nourished by rectitude, and sustaining no injury, it fills up all between Heaven and Earth. This is the passion-nature: It is the mate and assistant of righteousness and reason. Without it, man is in a state of starvation. It is produced by the accumulation of righteous deeds; it is not to be obtained by incidental acts of righteousness.”