The tendency of man's nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downwards.

人性之善也，猶水之就下也。

Mencius

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More information about this quote

Topic

People are basically good Human nature

Author

Mencius

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

Chinese

Time

300 BC 300s BC 4th century BC

Occupation

Philosopher

From

China Asia

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Mencius. Mengzi. c. 300 BC, bk. 6.

Current Citation

Mencius. Mencius, translated by D. C. Lau. Penguin Classics, 2005, bk. 6.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about Human nature

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)

Walt Whitman

Song of Myself

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More information about this quote
Topic
Contradiction Inconsistency Human nature

Author

Walt Whitman
Source
Song of Myself Leaves of Grass
Medium
Poem
Language
English
Time
1855 1850s 19th century
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, poem 1.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, sect. 51.

Another quote originally in Chinese

When one is at ease with himself, one is near Tao.

Zhuang Zhou

More information about this quote
Topic
Inner peace Self-assurance

Author

Zhuang Zhou
Source
Zhuang Zhou
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Chinese
Time
221 BC 220s BC 3rd century BC
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Zhou, Zhuang. 莊子 [Zhuangzi]. c. 221 BC, ch. 2.

Another quote of the following type Metaphor, analogy and simile

The boisterous sea of liberty indeed is never without a wave.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Freedom as disruptive force Nature of freedom Freedom

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Genre
Political writing
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1820 1820s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Marquis de Lafayette. 26 Dec. 1820.