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.
XUNZIA 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.
More Xunzi Quotes
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Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
XUNZI -
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.
XUNZI -
The petty man is eager to make boasts, yet desires that others should believe in him. He enthusiastically engages in deception, yet wants others to have affection for him. He conducts himself like an animal, yet wants others to think well of him.
XUNZI -
Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.
XUNZI -
In antiquity the sage kings recognized that men’s nature is bad and that their tendencies were not being corrected and their lawlessness controlled.
XUNZI -
The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one’s inner power.
XUNZI -
When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.
XUNZI -
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.
XUNZI -
The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
XUNZI -
Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.
XUNZI -
Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
XUNZI -
If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
XUNZI -
They are done merely for ornament. … the common people regard them as supernatural.
XUNZI -
If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.
XUNZI -
Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
XUNZI