Mencius’ famous aphorisms and explanations are as follows:

1. The people are the most valuable, the country is the second most important, and the king is the least important. Explanation: Both the monarch and the state can be replaced, but only the common people cannot be replaced. Therefore, the people are the most important.

2. People must not be shameless. It is shameless to be shameless. Explanation: People cannot be without shame. The kind of shame without shame is shameless!

3. If you are rich, you can help the world; if you are poor, you can only take care of yourself. Explanation: When a person fails to achieve his ambition, he should keep himself clean and focus on improving personal cultivation and moral character; when a person achieves his ambition, he should think about benefiting the people of the world.

4. You cannot become a circle without following the rules. Explanation: Without rules and regulations, squares and circles cannot be drawn. It is a metaphor that only when everyone follows the rules can there be good order.

5. People always make mistakes, and then they can change; trapped in the heart, balanced by worries, and then act; marked by color, issued by sound, and then metaphor. Explanation: A person often makes mistakes before he can correct them; he is worried and has blocked thoughts before he can make a difference; a person's thoughts can only be understood by people when they are revealed on his face and expressed in chants and sighs. learn.

6. If a person is shameless, it is difficult for the king to rule. Explanation: If everyone does not have integrity, the country cannot be governed well.

7. Those who have attained the right will receive many help, while those who have lost the right will receive little help. Explanation: A king who can implement "benevolent government" will have more people who will help and support him. A monarch who does not implement "benevolent government" will have fewer people who will support and help him.

8. Destiny is called nature, and spontaneity is called Tao. Explanation: What heaven has given to humans is nature, following nature is Tao, and following Tao to cultivate oneself is teaching.

9. When quality is better than literature, the country will be wild; when literature is better than quality, history will be achieved. Explanation: If there is more literary talent than simplicity, it will be hypocritical and exaggerated. If simplicity exceeds decoration, it will be crude; if decoration exceeds simplicity, it will be vain.

10. Those who do not seek blessings or misfortunes by themselves. Explanation: There is no misfortune or happiness that you do not seek for yourself.