Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
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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If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
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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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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
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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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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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If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.
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When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.
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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.
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In antiquity the sage kings recognized that men’s nature is bad and that their tendencies were not being corrected and their lawlessness controlled.
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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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If what the heart approves conforms to proper patterns, then even if one’s desires are many, what harm would they be to good order?
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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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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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Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.
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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 knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
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The noble person uses things; the lesser man is used by things.
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Man’s nature is evil; goodness is the result of conscious activity.
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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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Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
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Whether the gentleman is capable or not, he is loved all the same; conversely the petty man is loathed all the same.
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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.
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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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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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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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If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.
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