Xun Zi Quotes & Sayings (Page 3)

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

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

“There are successful scholars, public-spirited scholars, upright scholars, cautious scholars, and those who are merely petty men.”

“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.”

“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.”

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

“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.”

“Thus, that one can find no place to walk through the breadth of the earth is not because the earth is not tranquil but because the danger to every step of the traveler lies generally with words.”

“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.”

“Music is a fantastic peacekeeper of the world, it is integral to harmony, and it is a required fundamental of human emotion.”