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.
XUNZIWhen people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.
More Xunzi Quotes
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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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Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
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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 coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one’s inner power.
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They are done merely for ornament. … the common people regard them as supernatural.
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Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.
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If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
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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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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 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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Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.
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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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If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
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Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
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Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
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The noble person uses things; the lesser man is used by things.
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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 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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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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I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study.
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The drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?
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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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Misery is evil; quarreling, a misfortune. There is only one possibility of avoiding both: a clear division of society. [Otherwise] the strong tyrannize the weak, the intelligent frighten the stupid, the inferior resist the superior, and the young mock the old.
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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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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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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