The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
XUNZIIn antiquity the sage kings recognized that men’s nature is bad and that their tendencies were not being corrected and their lawlessness controlled.
More Xunzi Quotes
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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
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Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
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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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If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.
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Quarreling over food and drink, having neither scruples nor shame, not knowing right from wrong, not trying to avoid death or injury, not fearful of greater strength or of greater numbers, greedily aware only of food and drink – such is the bravery of the dog and boar.
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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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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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The noble person uses things; the lesser man is used by things.
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Men of all social stations live together: they are equal in their desires, yet vary in their methods; they are equal in their passions, yet different in their intelligence; that is their nature-given vitality.
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Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
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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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The rigid cause themselves to be broken; the pliable cause themselves to be bound.
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If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
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If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
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They are done merely for ornament. … the common people regard them as supernatural.
XUNZI