When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.
XunziRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote advises caution in pursuing desires, as they may lead to negative consequences over time.
Xunzi's quote emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and reflection in our pursuits. It suggests that while we may find certain things appealing or beneficial, we must recognize that they can also lead to undesirable outcomes or harm in the future. This duality serves as a reminder to approach our desires and benefits with a critical mindset, understanding the transient nature of both pleasure and pain.
Themes
DesireReflectionConsequencesPleasurePain
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a philosophy class discussion about the nature of desire.
More from Xunzi
All quotes →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?
XunziRead
A person is born with feelings of envy and hate. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to violence and crime, and any sense of loyalty and good faith will be abandoned.
XunziRead
If the gentleman has ability, he is magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and straightforward, through which he opens the way to instruct others.
XunziRead
In antiquity the sage kings recognized that men's nature is bad and that their tendencies were not being corrected and their lawlessness controlled.
XunziRead
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.
XunziRead
Similar quotes
Most social acts have to be understood in their setting, and lose meaning if isolated. No error in thinking about social facts is more serious than the failure to see their place and function.
Solomon AschRead
I don't feel any vulgar gratitude to you[for helping me]. I almost feel as if You ought to be grateful to ME, for giving you the opportunity of enjoying the luxury of generosity. . . I may have come into the world expressly for the purpose of increasing your stock of happiness. I may have been born to be a benefactor to you, by giving you an opportunity of assisting me.
Charles DickensRead
Christianity is at its best when it is peculiar, marginalized, suffering, and it is at its worst when it is popular, credible, triumphal, and powerful.
Shane ClaiborneRead
If anyone tells you there is only one way, their way, get as far away from them as possible, both physically and philosophically.
Jim JarmuschRead
He who receives money in trust to administer for the benefit of its owner, and uses it either for his own interest or against the wishes of its rightful owner, is a thief.
Jose MartiRead
The question of whether or not there is a God or truth or reality or whatever you like to call it, can never be answered by books, by priests, philosopher's or saviours. Nobody and nothing can answer the question but you yourself, and that is why you must know yourself - Immaturity lies only in total ignorance of self.
Jiddu KrishnamurtiRead