--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By exhaustively examining one's own…" description: "\"By exhaustively examining one's own mind,one may understand his nature.One who understands his own nature understands Heaven.\" — Mencius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/mencius-3576_examining_by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind_1995978.png" --- # By exhaustively examining one's own mind,one may… ![“By exhaustively examining one's own mind,one may understand his nature.One who understands his own nature understands Heaven.” quote by Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/mencius-3576_examining_by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind_1995978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/mencius-3576_examining_by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind_1995978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/mencius-3576_examining_by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind_1995978.png) > “By exhaustively examining one's own mind,one may understand his nature.One who understands his own nature understands Heaven.” [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑examination reveals one's true nature, which aligns with the cosmic order. **In simple terms:** Knowing yourself connects to a higher order. Key Takeaway Cultivate introspection. Themes self‑knowledge philosophy spirituality Mood contemplative inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - ethical decision‑making - leadership - teaching Key Concepts Confucianism human nature Questions to Reflect On - What does “Heaven” mean to you? - How can self‑knowledge improve society? A Different Perspective Understanding may be limited by cultural context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Examining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examining/) [Examining Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examining-mind-3485137/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-understand-662315/) [Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Understand Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-nature/) [Understands Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understands-heaven-3485136/) [Understands Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understands-nature-590971/) ## Related quotes > [If you keep examining your mind, you'll come to see that thoughts of who you are and how it all is are creating the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/if-you-keep-examining-your-mind-you-ll-come-to-see-that-thoughts-of/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Every individual, from the common mechanic, that works in wood or clay, to the prime minister that regulates with the dash of his pen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/every-individual-from-the-common-mechanic-that-works-in-wood-or-clay/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [The controlling Intelligence understands its own nature, and what it does, and whereon it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-controlling-intelligence-understands-its-own-nature-and-what-it/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [He who understands nature walks close with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/he-who-understands-nature-walks-close-with-god/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“Sometimes the heart speaks a language that the mind will never understand... sometimes the impossible seems reachable and the invisible becomes essential!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mercurio-ebohon/sometimes-the-heart-speaks-a-language-that-the-mind-will-never/) [Laura Mercurio Ebohon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mercurio-ebohon/) > [Find out for yourself what are the possesions and ideals that you do not desire. By knowing what you do not want, by elimination,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/find-out-for-yourself-what-are-the-possesions-and-ideals-that-you-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The human hearts knows things that the eyes don't see and feels things that the mind cannot understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-human-hearts-knows-things-that-the-eyes-don-t-see-and-feels/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course? Can you step back from you own mind and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-deal-with-the-most-vital-matters-by-letting-events-take-their/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Can you step back from your own mind and thus understand all things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-step-back-from-your-own-mind-and-thus-understand-all-things/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“The twin grapes looked into the smoked glass and saw a mind full of nothing they could understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/the-twin-grapes-looked-into-the-smoked-glass-and-saw-a-mind-full-of/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Intelligence fails because it is human, no stronger than the power of one mind to understand another. (480)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-weiner/intelligence-fails-because-it-is-human-no-stronger-than-the-power-of/) [Tim Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-weiner/) > [Sometimes is best we open our eyes shut our heart and listen to our mind, so we can see and understand when the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/sometimes-is-best-we-open-our-eyes-shut-our-heart-and-listen-to-our/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Just as the eye was made to see colours, and the ear to hear sounds, so the human mind was made to understand, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/just-as-the-eye-was-made-to-see-colours-and-the-ear-to-hear-sounds-so/) [Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/) > [Order is a necessary condition for anything the human mind is to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-arnheim/order-is-a-necessary-condition-for-anything-the-human-mind-is-to/) [Rudolf Arnheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-arnheim/) > [I understand China, and I understand the Chinese mind. I understand where they're coming from. They are not our friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-understand-china-and-i-understand-the-chinese-mind-i-understand/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Mencius > [The fruit of humanity is devotion to one's parents. The fruit of righteousness is to respect one's elders. The fruit of wisdom is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/the-fruit-of-humanity-is-devotion-to-one-s-parents-the-fruit-of/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [People are eager to comment on something when they themselves are not in the situation of doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/people-are-eager-to-comment-on-something-when-they-themselves-are-not/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Truth uttered before its time is dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/truth-uttered-before-its-time-is-dangerous/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Only when someone refuses to do certain things will he be capable of doing great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/only-when-someone-refuses-to-do-certain-things-will-he-be-capable-of/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [The disease of men is that they neglect their own fields and go to weed the fields of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/the-disease-of-men-is-that-they-neglect-their-own-fields-and-go-to/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [People can have a long-term life plan only if they know their private property is secure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/people-can-have-a-long-term-life-plan-only-if-they-know-their-private/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Is it only the mouth and belly which are injured by hunger and thirst? Men's minds are also injured by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/is-it-only-the-mouth-and-belly-which-are-injured-by-hunger-and-thirst/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Mankind fears an evil man but heaven does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/mankind-fears-an-evil-man-but-heaven-does-not/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [Water indeed will flow indifferently to the east or west, but will it flow indifferently up or down? The tendency of our nature to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/water-indeed-will-flow-indifferently-to-the-east-or-west-but-will-it/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [When the men of antiquity realized their wishes, benefits were conferred by them on the people. If they did not realize their wishes, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/when-the-men-of-antiquity-realized-their-wishes-benefits-were/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [If the King loves music, it is well with the land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/if-the-king-loves-music-it-is-well-with-the-land/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [The poor attend to their own virtue in solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/the-poor-attend-to-their-own-virtue-in-solitude/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [There is the work of great men and there is the work of little men. Therefore it is said, 'Some labor with their minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/there-is-the-work-of-great-men-and-there-is-the-work-of-little-men/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [There is a power in everything; it is the job of the artist to determine it and express it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/there-is-a-power-in-everything-it-is-the-job-of-the-artist-to/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) > [All people have the common desire to be elevated in honour, but all people have something still more elevated in themselves without knowing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/all-people-have-the-common-desire-to-be-elevated-in-honour-but-all/) [Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) [Explore all 125 Mencius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/) ## More Examining quotes > [Especially for those of us who lived in single cells, you had the time to sit down and think, and we discovered that sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/especially-for-those-of-us-who-lived-in-single-cells-you-had-the-time/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I love that the idea of examining memory, and the way memory is edited was made more interesting because it was being filtered through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-love-that-the-idea-of-examining-memory-and-the-way-memory-is-edited/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [The examining physician often hesitates to make the necessary examination because it involves soiling the finger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james-mayo/the-examining-physician-often-hesitates-to-make-the-necessary/) [William James Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james-mayo/) > [we make a great fuss about national conscience, but it consists mainly in insisting upon everyone ascribing our national policy to highly moral motives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/we-make-a-great-fuss-about-national-conscience-but-it-consists-mainly/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-newspapers-at-one-time-said-that-i-was-dead-but-after-carefully/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The philosophic spirit of inquiry may be traced to brute curiosity, and that to the habit of examining all things in search of food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-winwood-reade/the-philosophic-spirit-of-inquiry-may-be-traced-to-brute-curiosity/) [William Winwood Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-winwood-reade/) > [When I first began examining the global-warming scare, I found nothing more puzzling than the way officially approved scientists kept on being shown to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-booker/when-i-first-began-examining-the-global-warming-scare-i-found-nothing/) [Christopher Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-booker/) > [A live unexamined isn't worth living. I will add, "A life unlived isn't worth examining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-live-unexamined-isn-t-worth-living-i-will-add-a-life-unlived-isn-t/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I think the key to writing the truth of our existences, so much of this is being incubated online, is examining the conflicts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-zambreno/i-think-the-key-to-writing-the-truth-of-our-existences-so-much-of/) [Kate Zambreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-zambreno/) > [Remus Lupin was supposed to be on the H.I.V. metaphor. It was someone who had been infected young, who suffered stigma, who had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/remus-lupin-was-supposed-to-be-on-the-h-i-v-metaphor-it-was-someone/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [The program grew out of a desire to address a gap identified after 9/11 ... The program does not involve the NSA examining the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-program-grew-out-of-a-desire-to-address-a-gap-identified-after-9/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There is no need for a fear of losing control over who is accessing the network to hold back the productivity benefits of flexible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jackson/there-is-no-need-for-a-fear-of-losing-control-over-who-is-accessing/) [Richard Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jackson/) > [From childhood my mother had me examining Robert Mapplethorpe's style and Egon Schiele's framing - that's what modelling is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/from-childhood-my-mother-had-me-examining-robert-mapplethorpe-s-style/) [Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milla-jovovich/) > [Prosperity is apt to prevent us from examining our conduct; but adversity leads us to think properly of our state, and so is beneficial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/prosperity-is-apt-to-prevent-us-from-examining-our-conduct-but/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The unlived life is not worth examining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-unlived-life-is-not-worth-examining/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 218 Examining quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examining/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By exhaustively examining one's own mind,one may understand his nature.One who understands his own nature understands Heaven.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mencius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind-one-may-understand-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Examining" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind-one-may-understand-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/mencius-3576_examining_by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind_1995978.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/mencius-3576_examining_by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind_1995978.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55c/mencius-3576_examining_by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind_1995978.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By exhaustively examining one's own mind,one may understand his nature.One who understands his own nature…” — Mencius", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mencius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By exhaustively examining one's own mind,one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind-one-may-understand-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/by-exhaustively-examining-one-s-own-mind-one-may-understand-his/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```