Tao Te Ching
Xun Kuang 荀況
(Xún Kuàng, Xúnzǐ)
310 – 235 BCE
Early Confucian philosopher of "basic badness"
An early Confucian philosopher, Xunzi had a big influence on the translation of Confucian ideas into governmental policy until Mencius assumed that role. He was one of the first to talk about Lao Tzu and used Taoist descriptions while arguing against the Taoist interpretations. Unlike most Chinese philosophers who began with a foundation of basic goodness, Xunzi—much like the Judeo-Christian traditions—taught that humans were basically evil, that strict ethical rules were necessary to prevent their natural tendencies, and that only an elite few could accomplish much. He rejected the idea of positive change in favor of a conservative return to the past's wisdom; but—perhaps in contradiction—recommended promotions based on merit instead of hereditary titles.
Lineages
Confucian
Eras
Unlisted Sources
Quotes by Xun Kuang (9 quotes)
“He who does not sweep the droppings at home is not likely to notice that weeds run riot on the sacred ceremonial mounds.”
Chapters:
53. Shameless Thieves
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“If you climb to a height and beckon, it’s not that your arm grows longer, but it's seen from farther away. If you yell downwind it’s not that the sound gets swifter, but it is heard more clearly.”
Chapters:
32. Uncontrived Awareness
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“Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.”
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“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.”
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“The learning of the gentleman enters through his ears, fastens to his heart, spreads through his four limbs, and manifests itself in his actions. ... The learning of the petty person enters through his ears and passes out his mouth. From mouth to ears is only four inches—how could it be enough to improve a whole body much larger than that?”
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“The gentleman knows that whatever is imperfect and unrefined does not deserve praise. ... He makes his eyes not want to see what is not right, makes his ears not want to hear what is not right, makes his mouth not want to speak what is not right, and makes his heart not want to deliberate over what is not right. ... For this reason, power and profit cannot sway him, the masses cannot shift him, and nothing in the world can shake him.”
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“The gentleman makes things his servants. The petty man is servant to things.”
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“The straightening board was created because of warped wood, and the plumb line came into being because of things that are not straight. Rulers are established and ritual and rightness are illuminated because the nature is evil.”
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“A person who is shallow aspires to depth; one who is ugly aspires to beauty; one who is narrow aspires to breadth; one who is poor aspires to wealth; one who is humble aspires to esteem. Whatever one lacks in oneself he must seek outside.”
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