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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.

Xunzi

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Xunzi
Nature
Lawlessness
Men
Corrected
Antiquity
Sage
Recognized
Controlled
Tendencies
Kings

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Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
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The rigid cause themselves to be broken the pliable cause themselves to be bound.
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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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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
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Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
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The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
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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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Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
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If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.
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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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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 drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?
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The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power.
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Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
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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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They are done merely for ornament. ... the common people regard them as supernatural.
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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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