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Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.

Xunzi

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Xunzi
Human
Humans
Intentional
Caused
Goodness
Activity
Evil
Nature

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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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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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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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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 knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
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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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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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Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
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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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Man's nature is evil goodness is the result of conscious activity.
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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
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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 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.
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If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.
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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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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 refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
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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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The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
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