The Great End Of Learning Is

From Mengzi 6A, in the context of Mencius's debate with the philosopher Gaozi on human nature. Mencius argued against Gaozi's view that human nature is morally neutral, insisting instead that all people are born with a good moral mind (xin) which can be neglected and lost. The purpose of learning, therefore, is not to acquire virtue from outside but to recover and nurture the goodness that was always present — what Mencius called seeking the lost mind. He followed Confucius in treating self-cultivation as the foundation of all moral and political life.