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

— Xunzi Fayek S. Hourani (2012)

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More quotes by Xunzi

A questioner asks: If human nature is evil, then where do ritual and rightness come from? I reply: ritual and rightness are always created by the conscious activity of the sages.

Sources of Chinese Tradition (1999)

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?

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

Errick A. Ford (2010)

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

Joan Klostermann-Ketels (2011)

Learning proceeds until death and only then does it stop. ... Its purpose cannot be given up for even a moment. To pursue it is to be human, to give it up to be a beast.

Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy (2001)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Xunzi (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.