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.
XUNZINot having heard something is not as good as having heard it; having heard it is not as good as having seen it; having seen it is not as good as knowing it; knowing it is not as good as putting it into practice.
More Xunzi Quotes
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Now it is human nature to want to eat to ones fill when hungry, to want to warm up when cold, to want to rest when tired. These all are a part of people’s emotional nature.
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Sacrifice is a state of mind in which our thoughts turn with longing [toward Heaven, the Ancestors], It is the supreme expression of loyalty, love, and respect.
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The nature of man is evil; what is good in him is artificial.
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Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
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They are done merely for ornament. … the common people regard them as supernatural.
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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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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 evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
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The rigid cause themselves to be broken; the pliable cause themselves to be bound.
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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 the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.
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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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If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.
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The drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?
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The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
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The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one’s inner power.
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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
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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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The noble person uses things; the lesser man is used by things.
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Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
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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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Man’s nature is evil; goodness is the result of conscious activity.
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Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.
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Not having heard something is not as good as having heard it; having heard it is not as good as having seen it; having seen it is not as good as knowing it; knowing it is not as good as putting it into practice.
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If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
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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.
XUNZI