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. – Xun Zi
Human nature refers to what is in people but which they cannot study or work at achieving. – Xun Zi
Therefore, a person should first be changed by a teachers 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. – Xun Zi
If knowledge and foresight are too penetrating and deep, unify them with ease and sincerity. – Xun Zi
Each one of us is alone in the world… We seek pitifully to convey to others the treasures of our heart, but they have not the power to accept them, and so we go lonely, side by side but not together, unable to know our fellows and unknown by them. – W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, 1919