Xunzi Quotes - Page 2

Whether the gentleman is capable or not, he is loved all the same; conversely the petty man is loathed all the same.

If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.

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.

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.

Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.

Human nature is what Heaven supplies.

Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.

When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state.

Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.

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.

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.

If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.

You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: wy not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them?

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.

If the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others.

The drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?

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?

If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.

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.

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

In antiquity the sage kings recognized that men's nature is bad and that their tendencies were not being corrected and their lawlessness controlled.

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.

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.