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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.
Xunzi
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More quotes by Xunzi
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 the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others.
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The nature of man is evil what is good in him is artificial.
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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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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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They are done merely for ornament. ... the common people regard them as supernatural.
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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
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The noble person uses things the lesser man is used by things.
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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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Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.
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Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
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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 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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I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study.
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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 knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
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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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You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: wy not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them?
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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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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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