Xunzi Quotes

42 quotes in 591 categories

• I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study.
• 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…
• The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
• A person is born with feelings of envy and hate. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to violence and crime, and…
• Music is a fantastic peacekeeper of the world, it is integral to harmony, and it is a required fundamental of human emotion.
• If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.
• Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
• When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.
• If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
• 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…
• If the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others.
• Whether the gentleman is capable or not, he is loved all the same; conversely the petty man is loathed all the same.
• The rigid cause themselves to be broken; the pliable cause themselves to be bound.
• If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
• 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…
• 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…
• Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
• Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
• 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…
• If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.

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