In antiquity the sage kings recognized that men’s nature is bad and that their tendencies were not being corrected and their lawlessness controlled.
XUNZIIf you wish to see the thousand years, look at today; if you wish to understand the millionfold, then look at the one or the two.
More Xunzi Quotes
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Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.
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Music is a fantastic peacekeeper of the world, it is integral to harmony, and it is a required fundamental of human emotion.
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There are successful scholars, public-spirited scholars, upright scholars, cautious scholars, and those who are merely petty men.
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The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one’s inner power.
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I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study.
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Therefore, a person should first be changed by a teacher’s instructions, and guided by principles of ritual. Only then can he observe the rules of courtesy and humility, obey the conventions and rules of society, and achieve order.
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The noble person uses things; the lesser man is used by things.
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A person is born with feelings of envy and hate. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to violence and crime, and any sense of loyalty and good faith will be abandoned.
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If you wish to see the thousand years, look at today; if you wish to understand the millionfold, then look at the one or the two.
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They are done merely for ornament. … the common people regard them as supernatural.
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If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.
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Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
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If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
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Since the nature of people is bad, to become corrected they must be taught by teachers and to be orderly they must acquire ritual and moral principles.
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Thus, that one can find no place to walk through the breadth of the earth is not because the earth is not tranquil but because the danger to every step of the traveler lies generally with words.
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Human nature is such that people are born with a love of profit If they follow these inclinations, they will struggle and snatch from each other, and inclinations to defer or yield will die.
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Man’s nature is evil; goodness is the result of conscious activity.
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One must remember equality, yet also be aware of difference, for if the people are allowed to act as it pleases them without coming up against displeasure, if one gives rein to its desires without setting [any] limit, it becomes confused and can no longer take delight in anything.
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You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: wy not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them?
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Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
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The drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?
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Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
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If the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others.
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Thus, anybody who follows this nature and gives way its states will be led into quarrels and conflicts, and go against the conventions and rules of society, and will end up a criminal.
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If the quickness of the mind and the fluency of the tongue are too punctilious and sharp, moderate them in your activity and rest.
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I once tried standing up on my toes to see far out in the distance, but I found that I could see much farther by climbing to a high place.
XUNZI