All Xunzi Quotes
- When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state. Agriculture
- If the quickness of the mind and the fluency of the tongue are too punctilious and sharp, moderate them in your activity and rest. Activity
- 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… Anybody
- 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… All
- Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that. Disagree
- The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power. Coming
- 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… Affection
- If you wish to see the thousand years, look at today; if you wish to understand the millionfold, then look at the one or the… Concentration
- 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… Act
- The nature of man is evil; what is good in him is artificial. Artificial
- 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,… Ancestor
- 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,… Avoiding
- Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing. Concerned
- 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… Avoid
- There are successful scholars, public-spirited scholars, upright scholars, cautious scholars, and those who are merely petty men. Cautious
- Pride and excess bring disaster for man. Bring
- 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… Good
- In order to properly understand the big picture, everyone should fear becoming mentally clouded and obsessed with one small section of truth. Becoming
- A person is born with a liking for profit. Born
- A person is born with desires of the eyes and ears, and a liking for beautiful sights and sounds. If he gives way to them,… Abandoned