Mencius: The Ancient Chinese Philosopher Who Made a Powerful Case for Limited Government

There’s a reason Mao Zedong tried to flush his teachings down the memory hole after coming to power in 1949

Mencius, from "Half Portraits of the Great Sage and Virtuous Men of Old," Yuan dynasty (1279–1368), by an anonymous artist. Public domain

A very long time ago, a Chinese scholar wrote, “The people are the most important element in a nation; the land and grain come next; the sovereign counts for the least.”

That sovereign, moreover, should rule by the consent of those he governs, and if he’s a tyrant, the governed have every right to get rid of him, one way or another.