The concept of benevolent governing was an important part of Mencius' doctrine. He pointed out the historical fact that the success of a nation depended on the people's support and that where governments had popular support, they went on to min empires.
Implementation of a benevolent form of government would be easy, he reasoned, as he saw benevolence as 
an essential part of human nature. He gave the example: anyone who sees a child falling into well should "feet apprehensive and have a feeling of sympathy." This instinctive response was, said Mencius, basic to the kindness of human nature.
Mencius wrote that everyone had "a feeling of sympathy," which was the germ of benevolence and it could be conditioned to become virtue. He believed that the ideal society was one achieved through benevolent governing, where everyone was kind and possessed a noble morality. He paid close attention to the functioning of a system of government, rules and orders and stressed that everything should focus on the stability of the country and on the spirit of loving kindness. The principle of benevolent governing demanded that all political activities were humane and in the interests of the people. Mencius believed a government should enable all people to have a certain amount of property, such as land and housing and the people should not have to pay too much tax, so that they may lead a comfortable life, with enough food and clothes. The benevolent government should oppose war and killing, and teach morality to the people, so allowing them to develop.
"If a monarch is kind-hearted, all will be kind-hearted; if a monarch is righteous, all will be righteous. A virtuous monarch will rule a stable country."
