If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony.
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 o...
When you locate good in yourself, approve of it with determination. When you locate evil in yourself, despise it as something detestable.
Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
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?
In order to properly understand the big picture, everyone should fear becoming mentally clouded and obsessed with one small section of truth.
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.
If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity.
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.
The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.
Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity.
Thus, anybody who follows this nature and gives way its states will be led into quarrels and conflicts, and go against the conventions and rules of society, and will end up a criminal.
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.
Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
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.
Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving.
The coming of honor or disgrace must be a reflection of one's inner power.
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.
When people lack teachers, their tendencies are not corrected; when they do not have ritual and moral principles, then their lawlessness is not controlled.
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.
