Q0148
“Mencius said: Those who love others are constantly loved by others; those…” — Mencius (Mencius, Lilou II)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Mencius, Lilou II. Theme: love.
English
Mencius said: Those who love others are constantly loved by others; those who respect others are constantly respected by others.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Mencius, Lilou II and files it under Confucianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Mencius
Mencius (Meng Ke, c. 371–c.
Interpretation
Mencius is defending his claim that human nature tends toward goodness, and this is his argument from reciprocity rather than from sentiment. The structure is conditional: love and respect reliably return, so the failure of that return is evidence of something gone wrong rather than of human nature. In Mencius's usage the terms carry obligation, not only feeling — to respect others is to acknowledge their standing. He is making the cultivated person's behaviour the test of the theory.
Why it matters
It reframes a common complaint. Where return does not come, Mencius would have you ask what failed in the practice rather than conclude that people are ungrateful.
Concepts in this quote
- Love
- Love in philosophy ranges from friendship and desire to care, justice, and the transformation of the self.
- Dignity
- Dignity names the worth that persons claim simply as persons—and the respect that worth demands.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Mencius. (n.d.). Mencius said: Those who love others are constantly loved by others; those who respect others are constantly respected by others. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0148
MLA: Mencius. “Mencius said: Those who love others are constantly….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0148.
Chicago: Mencius. “Mencius said: Those who love others are constantly….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0148.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Mencius said: Those who love others are constantly…”?
The passage is attributed to Mencius, Mencius, Lilou II. The archive attributes this English wording to Mencius, Lilou II and files it under Confucianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Mencius mean by love?
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, dignity.