Confucian
philosopher
who lived during the Warring States Period
and contributed to one of the Hundred Schools of Thought
. Xun Zi believed man's inborn tendencies need to be curbed through education and ritual, counter to Mencius
's view that man is innately good. He believed that ethical norms had been invented to rectify mankind.
Educated in the state of Qi, Xun Zi was associated with the Confucian
school, but his philosophy has a pragmatic flavour compared to Confucian optimism.
I once tried thinking for an entire day, but I found it less valuable than one moment of study. 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.
The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
When you locate good in yourself, approve of it with determination. When you locate evil in yourself, despise it as something detestable.
In order to properly understand the big picture, everyone should fear becoming mentally clouded and obsessed with one small section of truth.
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?
Music is a fantastic peacekeeper of the world, it is integral to harmony, and it is a required fundamental of human emotion.