Gao Zi I · Passage 17 / 20 · 孟子 6A.17
Mencius 6A.17: true honor is already within
Mencius argues that the deepest honor is not conferred from outside. It depends on whether benevolence and righteousness have genuinely taken shape within.
孟子曰：「欲貴者，人之同心也。人人有貴於己者，弗思耳矣。人之所貴者，非良貴也。趙孟之所貴，趙孟能賤之。《詩》云：『既醉以酒，既飽以德。』言飽乎仁義也，所以不愿人之膏粱之味也。令聞廣譽施於身，所以不愿人之文繡也。」
Mencius said, 'To desire to be honoured is the common mind of men. And all men have in themselves that which is truly honourable. Only they do not think of it. The honour which men confer is not good honour. Those whom Zhao the Great ennobles he can make mean again. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "He has filled us with his wine, He has satiated us with his goodness." "Satiated us with his goodness," that is, satiated us with benevolence and righteousness, and he who is so satiated, consequently, does not wish for the fat meat and fine millet of men. A good reputation and far-reaching praise fall to him, and he does not desire the elegant embroidered garments of men.'
Priority note
A human-edited reading layer
Central question
Why does Mencius say that every person has something truly honorable within, though they fail to reflect on it?
Direct answer
Because everyone wants distinction, yet forgets that the most important kind of distinction begins inside. Whether a person is filled with benevolence and righteousness determines whether outer honor means anything at all.
First principle
Durable dignity does not arrive by external addition. It arises when something within the person has actually become worthy of respect.
Why it matters
This passage serves searches around honor, dignity, and Mencius on inner worth. It deepens the theme of heavenly nobility with a more personal account of what honor really is.
Further reading
What this passage is doing
This is passage 17 of 20 in Gao Zi I. The cleanest entry point is "To desire to be honoured is the common…". In context, it works as part of Mencius's argument about human goodness, desire, and the debates with Gaozi and can be read alongside Flood-like qi.
Broader search routes
If you came here with a wider question, start from the right hub page
Flood-like qi: moral courage formed by repeated right action
If your real query is broader than one citation, start from the theme page and use this passage as proof text.
Open flood-like qiWho is Mencius?
If you first need the person, the aliases, and why he matters, start from the about page.
Open About MenciusMencius quotes and sayings
If you arrived through a famous line, start from the quotes hub and then return to the exact passage.
Open Mencius quotesMencius full text and works of Mencius
If you need the book structure, the works of Mencius, or where to read the text, start from the full-text hub.
Open the full-text hubBook context
Gao Zi I is the central battleground for human goodness and the arguments with Gaozi.
Related principles
Citation note
Do not read it as therapeutic flattery. Mencius is not saying 'you are already fine as you are.' He is saying there is an inner ground for honor that must be actively realized.