--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never has a man who has bent himself been…" description: "\"Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.\" — Mencius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/mencius-3576_able_never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-bee_1624904.png" --- # Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make… ![“Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.” quote by Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/mencius-3576_able_never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-bee_1624904.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/mencius-3576_able_never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-bee_1624904.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/mencius-3576_able_never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-bee_1624904.png) > “Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.” [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. A person who forces themselves to conform cannot effectively guide others to proper behavior. **In simple terms:** Self‑bending hinders guiding others. Key Takeaway Lead by authentic example. Themes leadership integrity influence Mood reflective philosophical Type moral inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - parenting - management - politics Key Concepts confucianism self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - Can you be authentic while guiding? - What balance of self‑discipline and flexibility works? A Different Perspective Rigid self‑control may alienate followers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“Ignoring the agony that shot through his side at the move, he scrambled to his feet and reached for the gun tucked in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/ignoring-the-agony-that-shot-through-his-side-at-the-move-he/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [Ride your horse calm, forward and then make him straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-zettl/ride-your-horse-calm-forward-and-then-make-him-straight/) [Walter Zettl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-zettl/) > [Try not to make a straight line crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/try-not-to-make-a-straight-line-crooked/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [I do everything by hand... Even if I'm doing really big letters and I spend a lot of time going over the line and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-kilgallen/i-do-everything-by-hand-even-if-i-m-doing-really-big-letters-and-i/) [Margaret Kilgallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-kilgallen/) > [“in the LORD with all your heart,         and  j do not lean on your own understanding. 6    In all your ways  k acknowledge him,         and he  l will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-lord-with-all-your-heart-and-j-do-not-lean-on-your-own-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do not fear for me. Make straight your own path to destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/do-not-fear-for-me-make-straight-your-own-path-to-destiny/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Smile is the only curved line that can make everything straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/smile-is-the-only-curved-line-that-can-make-everything-straight/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-the-voice-of-one-crying-out-in-the-desert-make-straight-the-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [LIFE is not straight, but you can stil make it straight with your pressing IRON haha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkemjika/life-is-not-straight-but-you-can-stil-make-it-straight-with-your/) [Nkemjika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkemjika/) > [“Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ecclesiastes-7-13/consider-the-work-of-god-who-can-make-straight-what-he-has-made/) Ecclesiastes 7 13 > [“As to the crook in your lot, God has made it; and it must continue while He will have it so. Should you ply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/as-to-the-crook-in-your-lot-god-has-made-it-and-it-must-continue/) [Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/) > [Part of the strength that Charlie and I have as a team is we've been able to keep our priorities straight through our entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/part-of-the-strength-that-charlie-and-i-have-as-a-team-is-we-ve-been/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [Old age likes to dwell in the recollections of the past, and, mistaking, the speedy march of years, often is inclined to take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lajos-kossuth/old-age-likes-to-dwell-in-the-recollections-of-the-past-and-mistaking/) [Lajos Kossuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lajos-kossuth/) > [The longer I live, the more it grieves me to see man, who occupies his supreme place for the very purpose of imposing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-longer-i-live-the-more-it-grieves-me-to-see-man-who-occupies-his/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) ## 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 Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mencius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-been-able-to-make-others-straight/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-been-able-to-make-others-straight/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/mencius-3576_able_never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-bee_1624904.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/mencius-3576_able_never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-bee_1624904.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/mencius-3576_able_never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-bee_1624904.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never has a man who has bent himself been able to make others straight.” — 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": "Never has a man who has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-been-able-to-make-others-straight/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/never-has-a-man-who-has-bent-himself-been-able-to-make-others-straight/#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 } } ] } ```