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.

Xun Kuang

Pride and excess bring disaster for man.

Xun Kuang

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.

Xun Kuang

Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.

Xun Kuang

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.

Xun Kuang

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

Xun Kuang

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.

Xun Kuang

When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.

Xun Kuang

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

Xun Kuang

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

Xun Kuang