In antiquity the sage kings recognized that men's nature is bad and that their tendencies were not being corrected and their lawlessness controlled.

Those whose character is mean and vicious will rouse others to animosity against them.

Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing.

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 what the heart approves conforms to proper patterns, then even if one's desires are many, what harm would they be to good order?

If you wish to see the thousand years, look at today; if you wish to understand the millionfold, then look at the one or the two.

Thus, that one can find no place to walk through the breadth of the earth is not because the earth is not tranquil but because the danger to every step of the traveler lies generally with words.