Mencius

This ancient text records the teachings of Mencius ancient China's ya sheng, or "second sage." A philosopher who worked in the fourth century B.C., Mencius studied with the grandson of Confucius and is credited with the development of orthodox Confucianism.

The philosophical doctrine of Mencius concerns the inborn goodness of human nature. He taught that there are four principles innate in all people: sympathy, courtesy, shame, and knowing right from wrong. Mencius cultivated practical ideas...