"Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness"

The quote by Mencius suggests that an individual's track record for being kind brings more weight and impact than the actual kind words they might speak. This indicates that people tend to trust and respect those who have a credibility for being kind and thoughtful, even if they do not personally witness their kind actions or words. In essence, one's reputation for compassion is more impactful than their private acts of compassion.