Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
If desires align with proper patterns, having many desires does not harm order.
In plain terms
Desires are fine as long as they follow proper rules.
What can you take from it?
Align your desires with ethical standards to maintain harmony.

Where it applies

  • governance
  • self-regulation
  • social order

Putting it to work

  • establish clear norms
  • align goals with values
  • manage impulses

Questions to consider

  • Can desire and order coexist?
  • What makes a desire proper?

Another view

Defining 'proper patterns' is often subjective and contested.

More from Xun Zi

  1. Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.

    Permalink to quote #5
  2. Human nature is evil, and goodness is caused by intentional activity. A person is born with a liking for profit. If he gives way to this, it will lead him to q…

    Permalink to quote #7
  3. In order to properly understand the big picture, everyone should fear becoming mentally clouded and obsessed with one small section of truth.

    Permalink to quote #4

Related quotes

  1. A single assembly will never be a steady guardian of the laws, if Machiavel is right, when he says, Men are never good but through necessity: on the contrary, …

    John AdamsJohn Adams quote #80
  2. Though it is very important for man as an individual that his religion should be true, that is not the case for society. Society has nothing to fear or hope fr…

    Alexis de TocquevilleAlexis de Tocqueville quote #103
  3. It is almost impossible to bear the torch of truth through a crowd without singeing somebody's beard.

    Georg Christoph LichtenbergGeorg Christoph Lichtenberg quote #1