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They are done merely for ornament. ... the common people regard them as supernatural.

Xunzi

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Xunzi
Merely
Regard
Common
Done
People
Ornament
Ornaments
Supernatural

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The drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?
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The rigid cause themselves to be broken the pliable cause themselves to be bound.
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If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.
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Quarreling over food and drink, having neither scruples nor shame, not knowing right from wrong, not trying to avoid death or injury, not fearful of greater strength or of greater numbers, greedily aware only of food and drink - such is the bravery of the dog and boar.
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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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When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state.
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Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
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If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
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The noble person uses things the lesser man is used by things.
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Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
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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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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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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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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
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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.
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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.
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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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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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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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You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: wy not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them?
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