Xun Zi
Xun Zi
Xun Kuang, also widely known as Xun Zi,, was a Chinese Realist Confucian philosopher who lived during the Warring States period and contributed to one of the Hundred Schools of Thought...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryChina
cannot chinese-philosopher human nature people study work
Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
acquire chinese-philosopher corrected nature orderly people ritual since taught teachers
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.
chinese-philosopher lack people ritual tendencies
When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.
born chinese-philosopher follow human love nature people profit yield
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.
against anybody chinese-philosopher follows gives led nature quarrels states
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.
chinese-philosopher
A person is born with a liking for profit.
chinese-philosopher human nature
Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
chinese-philosopher concerned sacrifices
Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.
chinese-philosopher involve later man sees sooner time
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.
chinese-philosopher entire found less tried valuable
I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study.
born chinese-philosopher envy faith feelings gives good lead violence
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.
chinese-philosopher ease foresight knowledge unify
If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
caused chinese-philosopher goodness human nature
Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
cannot chinese-philosopher
When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state.