Li Lou I · Passage 04 / 28 · 孟子 4A.4
Mencius 4A.4: when things fail, turn the inquiry
Mencius treats failed love, failed governance, and failed courtesy as occasions to examine oneself first rather than exporting all blame outward.
孟子曰：「愛人不親，反其仁；治人不治，反其智；禮人不答，反其敬。行有不得者，皆反求諸己。其身正而天下歸之。《詩》云：『永言配命，自求多福。』」
Mencius said, 'If a man love others, and no responsive attachment is shown to him, let him turn inwards and examine his own benevolence. If he is trying to rule others, and his government is unsuccessful, let him turn inwards and examine his wisdom. If he treats others politely, and they do not return his politeness, let him turn inwards and examine his own feeling of respect. When we do not, by what we do, realise what we desire, we must turn inwards, and examine ourselves in every point. When a man's person is correct, the whole kingdom will turn to him with recognition and submission. It is said in the Book of Poetry, "Be always studious to be in harmony with the ordinances of God, And you will obtain much happiness."'
Priority note
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Central question
Why does Mencius insist on self-examination when relationships break down?
Direct answer
Because the first variables one can actually repair are internal. By testing one's own benevolence, intelligence, and respect first, one can distinguish self-failure from external disorder.
First principle
Cultivation is not compulsive self-blame. It is the discipline of starting with the factors one can genuinely alter.
Why it matters
This passage turns Mencius into a guide for everyday relationship governance and fits search intent around reflection, accountability, and interpersonal repair.
Further reading
What this passage is doing
This is passage 4 of 28 in Li Lou I. The cleanest entry point is "If a man love others, and no responsive…". In context, it works as part of Mencius's argument about self-examination, disorder, and keeping the way and can be read alongside Humane government / kingly way.
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Li Lou I often approaches disorder through self-examination and the standards for keeping the way.
Related principles
Citation note
Do not read 'turn back on yourself' as endless self-reproach. The point is to calibrate oneself first, not to deny reality outside oneself.