author
Mencius
-385–-289
A towering voice in early Confucian thought, this Chinese philosopher argued that people are naturally inclined toward goodness and that rulers have a duty to care for their people. His ideas on morality, government, and human nature shaped Chinese intellectual life for centuries.
3 Audiobooks
Chinese literature : Comprising the Analects of Confucius, the Sayings of Mencius, the Shi-King, the Travels of Fâ-Hien, and the Sorrows of Han
by Confucius, Faxian, Mencius
孟子
by Mencius
Les quatre livres de philosophie morale et politique de la Chine
by Confucius, Mencius
About the author
Born as Meng Ke and traditionally dated to about 371-289 BCE, Mencius is remembered as one of the most important interpreters of Confucius. Later tradition honored him as the "Second Sage," reflecting the high place he came to hold in the Confucian world.
He lived during the Warring States period and is said to have traveled among regional courts, advising rulers on how to govern well. His teachings strongly connect personal virtue with public responsibility, and he is especially known for the claim that human nature is fundamentally good.
The ideas associated with him were preserved in the Mencius, a classic text built around conversations, debates, and political advice. Clear, forceful, and often surprisingly vivid, his writing kept influencing philosophy, education, and statecraft long after his lifetime.