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

Xunzi

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Xunzi
Broken
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Causes
Pliable
Rigid
Bound
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More quotes by Xunzi

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The nature of man is evil what is good in him is artificial.
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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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Man's nature is evil goodness is the result of conscious activity.
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The noble person uses things the lesser man is used by things.
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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.
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They are done merely for ornament. ... the common people regard them as supernatural.
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The drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?
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Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
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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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Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
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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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If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
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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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Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
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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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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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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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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 the quickness of the mind and the fluency of the tongue are too punctilious and sharp, moderate them in your activity and rest.
Xunzi