Quote

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.

Xunzi

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Xunzi
Ends
Criminals
States
Thus
Giving
Rules
Way
Conflict
Conflicts
Anybody
Quarrels
Gives
Conventions
Society
Follows
Nature
Criminal

More quotes by Xunzi

Image
If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.
Xunzi
Image
The noble person uses things the lesser man is used by things.
Xunzi
Image
Misery is evil quarreling, a misfortune. There is only one possibility of avoiding both: a clear division of society. [Otherwise] the strong tyrannize the weak, the intelligent frighten the stupid, the inferior resist the superior, and the young mock the old.
Xunzi
Image
Since the nature of people is bad, to become corrected they must be taught by teachers and to be orderly they must acquire ritual and moral principles.
Xunzi
Image
When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state.
Xunzi
Image
Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.
Xunzi
Image
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.
Xunzi
Image
You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: wy not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them?
Xunzi
Image
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.
Xunzi
Image
The nature of man is evil what is good in him is artificial.
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
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
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
I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study.
Xunzi
Image
If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.
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
Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.
Xunzi
Image
Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
Xunzi
Image
Whether the gentleman is capable or not, he is loved all the same conversely the petty man is loathed all the same.
Xunzi
Image
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