Xunzi's classic quotes

 　　1. Without the cold of winter, one cannot know the pine and cypress; without hardship, one cannot know the gentleman.

　　— Xunzi

　　2. A gentleman is virtuous yet tolerant of the incompetent, wise yet tolerant of the foolish, learned yet tolerant of the shallow, pure yet tolerant of the impure.
　　— Xunzi

　　3. He who puts righteousness before profit is honored; he who puts profit before righteousness is disgraced.
　　— Xunzi

　　4. Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form a great river or sea.
　　— Xunzi, "Exhortation to Learning"

　　5. No sound is too small to be heard; no action is too hidden to be revealed.
　　— Xunzi

　　6. A gentleman is broad-minded but not arrogant, honest but not hurtful, discerning but not contentious, discerning but not impulsive, upright but not domineering, strong but not violent. He is gentle yet not swayed, respectful and cautious yet tolerant; this is the highest form of refinement.
　　— Xunzi

　　7. A fine horse may leap ten steps in one bound, but a slow horse can travel ten times the distance if it perseveres.
　　—Xunzi, "Exhortation to Learning"

　　8. Beasts have knowledge but no righteousness; humans have breath, life, knowledge, and also righteousness, therefore they are the most noble in the world.
　　—Xunzi

　　9. Hemp growing among reeds will stand straight without support.
　　—Xunzi

　　10. To know and to ask questions is the foundation of talent.
　　—Xunzi
　　11. A gentleman relies on virtue, a petty person on strength.
　　—Xunzi

　　12. Learning should never cease.
　　—Xunzi

　　13. A gentleman is noble without rank, rich without emolument, trustworthy without words, authoritative without anger, honored in poverty, and joyful in solitude.
　　—Xunzi

　　14. A gentleman is ashamed of not cultivating himself, not ashamed of being defiled; ashamed of not being trusted, not ashamed of not being trusted; ashamed of being incapable, not ashamed of not being employed.
　　Therefore, he is not tempted by praise, nor afraid of slander, but follows the Way, upright and self-disciplined, and not swayed by material things. This is what is meant by a true gentleman.
　　—Xunzi

　　15. I wish to be lowly yet noble, foolish yet wise, poor yet rich. Is this possible? The answer is: Only through learning.
　　—Xunzi

　　16. Accumulated soil forms a mountain, where wind and rain arise; accumulated water forms a deep pool, where dragons dwell; accumulated good deeds form virtue, and divine wisdom is naturally attained, and the sage's heart is complete. Therefore, without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form a great river or sea. A fine steed can leap ten steps in one bound; a slow horse can travel ten times the distance if it perseveres. If you chisel and then give up, even rotten wood will not break; if you chisel without giving up, even metal and stone can be carved. The earthworm has no sharp claws or teeth, nor strong muscles and bones, yet it feeds on the dust above and drinks from the Yellow Springs below, all because of its single-mindedness. The crab has eight legs and two claws, yet without the burrows of snakes and earthworms, it has nowhere to dwell, because of its restless mind.
　　Therefore, without a profound and mysterious ambition, there will be no brilliant and clear understanding; without diligent and persistent efforts, there will be no illustrious achievements. Those who walk on crossroads will not arrive; those who serve two masters will not be tolerated. The eye cannot see clearly in two directions at once, nor can the ear hear clearly in two directions at once. The flying serpent has no feet yet flies, the flying squirrel has five skills yet is still impoverished. The poem says: "The turtledove is in the mulberry tree, its young are seven. The virtuous gentleman, his conduct is one. His conduct is one, his heart is as firm as a knot." Therefore, the gentleman is bound to one thing. In the past, when Hu Ba played the zither, the fish came out to listen; when Bo Ya played the qin, the six horses raised their heads to listen. Therefore, no sound is too small to be heard, no action is too hidden to be revealed.
　　—Xunzi, Xunzi

　　17. I have pondered all day, but it is not as good as a moment of learning. I have stood on tiptoe to look, but it is not as good as climbing high to see widely. Climbing high and beckoning, the arm is not longer, yet those who see are far; shouting with the wind, the voice is not louder, yet those who hear are clear. Those who ride horses are not necessarily swift of foot, yet they travel a thousand miles; those who use boats are not necessarily good swimmers, yet they cross rivers. The superior man is not born different, but he is good at making use of things.
　　— Xunzi, *Xunzi*

　　18. A sage is wise, but without sincerity, he cannot transform the people.
　　— Xunzi, *Xunzi*

　　19. To indulge one's nature without seeking knowledge is to become a petty person.
　　— Xunzi, *Xunzi*

　　20. Turbidity illuminates the external world, clarity illuminates the internal world.
　　— Xunzi, *Xunzi*