Quote

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

Xunzi

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Xunzi
Nature
Human
Humans
Intentional
Caused
Goodness
Activity
Evil

More quotes by Xunzi

Image
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.
Xunzi
Image
Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
Xunzi
Image
If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
Xunzi
Image
If the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others.
Xunzi
Image
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
Image
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
Image
Whether the gentleman is capable or not, he is loved all the same conversely the petty man is loathed all the same.
Xunzi
Image
Music is a fantastic peacekeeper of the world, it is integral to harmony, and it is a required fundamental of human emotion.
Xunzi
Image
The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power.
Xunzi
Image
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.
Xunzi
Image
When a man sees something desirable, he must reflect on the fact that with time it could come to involve what is detestable. When he sees something that is beneficial, he should reflect that sooner or later it, too, could come to involve harm.
Xunzi
Image
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
Image
You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: wy not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them?
Xunzi
Image
If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.
Xunzi
Image
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.
Xunzi
Image
Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
Xunzi
Image
Man's nature is evil goodness is the result of conscious activity.
Xunzi
Image
Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
Xunzi
Image
Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
Xunzi
Image
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.
Xunzi