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The rigid cause themselves to be broken the pliable cause themselves to be bound.

Xunzi

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Xunzi
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More quotes by Xunzi

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Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
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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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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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The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
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The drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?
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The nature of man is evil what is good in him is artificial.
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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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Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
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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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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
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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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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.
Xunzi
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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.
Xunzi
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When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state.
Xunzi
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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.
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The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power.
Xunzi
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Man's nature is evil goodness is the result of conscious activity.
Xunzi
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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.
Xunzi
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Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.
Xunzi
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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?
Xunzi