47+ Xunzi Quotes On Education, Human Nature And Mencius

Xunzi was a Chinese Confucian philosopher of the Warring States period. He was a major opponent of the philosophy of the Confucian school of thought known as Mohism, and his works are considered some of the most important Confucian texts. Xunzi's philosophy focused on the idea of human nature and the need for education and ritual to cultivate virtue in order to achieve a harmonious society. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Xunzi on education, leadership, love.

Top 10 Xunzi Quotes

1. If the quickness of the mind and the fluency of the tongue are too punctilious and sharp, moderate them in your activity and rest.
2. 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.
3. Music is a fantastic peacekeeper of the world, it is integral to harmony, and it is a required fundamental of human emotion.
4. If there is no dull and determined effort, there will be no brilliant achievement.
5. 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.
6. Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
7. Pride and excess bring disaster for man.
8. When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.
9. The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
10. 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 Short Quotes

• Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.
• Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.
• If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.
• If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
• The rigid cause themselves to be broken; the pliable cause themselves to be bound.
• The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power.
• They are done merely for ornament. ... the common people regard them as supernatural.
• The noble person uses things; the lesser man is used by things.
• I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study.
• The drum is surely the lord of music, is it not?

Xunzi Quotes About Human Nature

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

The nature of man is evil; what is good in him is artificial. — Xunzi

Human nature is what Heaven supplies. — Xunzi

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

Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that. — Xunzi

Xunzi Famous Quotes And Sayings

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

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

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

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 climbing to a high place. — 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

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 impulse to daring and bravery is too fierce and violent, stay it with guidance and instruction. — 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

If the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others. — Xunzi

When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state. — Xunzi

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

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

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 two. — Xunzi

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

Man's nature is evil; goodness is the result of conscious activity. — Xunzi

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

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

You look upon the seasons with expectation and await them: wy not seize the seasonal opportunities and exploit them? — Xunzi

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, the intelligent frighten the stupid, the inferior resist the superior, and the young mock the old. — Xunzi

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 against displeasure, if one gives rein to its desires without setting [any] limit, it becomes confused and can no longer take delight in anything. — Xunzi

Life Lessons by Xunzi

Xunzi believed that humans are innately selfish and need to be taught morality and virtue. He argued that knowledge and education are essential for the cultivation of morality and virtue, and that it is through ritual that one can learn to be a moral person. His teachings emphasize the importance of understanding and following the Confucian way of life, which emphasizes the importance of education, respect for authority, and the pursuit of self-improvement.