 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. |
| Pride and excess bring disaster for man. |
| I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere. |
| Human nature is what Heaven supplies. |
| The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power. |
| 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. |
| Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that. |
| 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. |
| There are successful scholars, public-spirited scholars, upright scholars, cautious scholars, and those who are merely petty men. |
| If the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others. |
| 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? |
| 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. |
| If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity. |
| 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. |
