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.
-
Xunzi
In antiquity the sage kings recognized that men's nature is bad and that their tendencies were not being corrected and their lawlessness controlled.
-
Xunzi
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.
-
Xunzi
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.
-
Xunzi
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?
-
Xunzi
If the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others.
-
Xunzi
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.
-
Xunzi
You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: why not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them?
-
Xunzi
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.
-
Xunzi
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.
-
Xunzi
If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
-
Xunzi
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.
-
Xunzi
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.
-
Xunzi
If the impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction.
-
Xunzi
Whether the gentleman is capable or not, he is loved all the same; conversely the petty man is loathed all the same.
-
Xunzi
Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
-
Xunzi
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.
-
Xunzi
There are successful scholars, public-spirited scholars, upright scholars, cautious scholars, and those who are merely petty men.
-
Xunzi
Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.
-
Xunzi