Quote

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

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Xunzi
Tendencies
Kings
Nature
Lawlessness
Men
Corrected
Antiquity
Sage
Recognized
Controlled

More quotes by Xunzi

Image
There are successful scholars, public-spirited scholars, upright scholars, cautious scholars, and those who are merely petty men.
Xunzi
Image
If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
Xunzi
Image
Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
Xunzi
Image
The noble person uses things the lesser man is used by things.
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
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
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.
Xunzi
Image
Sacrifice is a state of mind in which our thoughts turn with longing [toward Heaven, the Ancestors], It is the supreme expression of loyalty, love, and respect.
Xunzi
Image
The drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?
Xunzi
Image
Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
Xunzi
Image
I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study.
Xunzi
Image
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.
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
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
They are done merely for ornament. ... the common people regard them as supernatural.
Xunzi
Image
The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
Xunzi
Image
The nature of man is evil what is good in him is artificial.
Xunzi
Image
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.
Xunzi
Image
If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.
Xunzi
Image
Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
Xunzi