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Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
Xunzi
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Xunzi
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More quotes by Xunzi
Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.
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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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When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state.
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Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
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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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Human nature is such that people are born with a love of profit If they follow these inclinations, they will struggle and snatch from each other, and inclinations to defer or yield will die.
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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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There are successful scholars, public-spirited scholars, upright scholars, cautious scholars, and those who are merely petty men.
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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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They are done merely for ornament. ... the common people regard them as supernatural.
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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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Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
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Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
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Man's nature is evil goodness is the result of conscious activity.
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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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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 nature of man is evil what is good in him is artificial.
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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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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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