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Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.

Xunzi

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Xunzi
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More quotes by 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.
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Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
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They are done merely for ornament. ... the common people regard them as supernatural.
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The nature of man is evil what is good in him is artificial.
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Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
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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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There are successful scholars, public-spirited scholars, upright scholars, cautious scholars, and those who are merely petty men.
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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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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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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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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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Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.
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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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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
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The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power.
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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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The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
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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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If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
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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.
Xunzi