Quotes from Xun Kuang

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.

Human nature is what Heaven supplies.

Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.

The rigid cause themselves to be broken; the pliable cause themselves to be bound.

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.

When you locate good in yourself, approve of it with determination. When you locate evil in yourself, despise it as something detestable.

Pride and excess bring disaster for man.

A person is born with a liking for profit.

Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.

The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.

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.

I say that human nature is the original beginning and the raw material, and deliberate effort is what makes it patterned, ordered, and exalted.

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

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

If there were no human nature, then there would be nothing for deliberate effort to be applied to. If there were no deliberate effort, then human nature would not be able to beautify itself.

If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.

If the quickness of the mind and the fluency of the tongue are too punctilious and sharp, moderate them in your activity and rest.

In order to properly understand the big picture, everyone should fear becoming mentally clouded and obsessed with one small section of truth.

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.

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.

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.

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, they will lead him to immorality and lack of restriction, and any ritual principles and propriety will be abandoned.

If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.

Human nature and deliberate effort must unite, and then the reputation of the sage and the work of unifying all under Heaven are thereupon brought to completion.