Man's nature is evil; goodness is the result of conscious activity. Xunzi More Quotes by Xunzi More Quotes From Xunzi Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. Xunzi leadership inspiring teacher 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 it is not as good as knowing it; knowing it is not as good as putting it into practice. Xunzi knowing practice heard If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement. Xunzi effort achievement motivational 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 have affection for him. He conducts himself like an animal, yet wants others to think well of him. Xunzi animal men believe Music is a fantastic peacekeeper of the world, it is integral to harmony, and it is a required fundamental of human emotion. Xunzi music fundamentals world 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 moral principles. Xunzi nature teacher people 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 any sense of loyalty and good faith will be abandoned. Xunzi loyalty hate faith The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere. Xunzi life-and-love two travel Pride and excess bring disaster for man. Xunzi excess pride men When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled. Xunzi principles teacher people 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 passion justice men Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity. Xunzi human-nature goodness evil Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving. Xunzi study nature people 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 desire heart order 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 time men facts You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: wy not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them? Xunzi expectations opportunity looks 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 yield struggle love The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power. Xunzi power honor reflection 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 sacrifice loyalty expression I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study. Xunzi study moments thinking
