堯問

Yao asked Shun: 'I wish to bring all under Heaven to order — how should I do it?' Shun replied: 'Hold fast to unity without fail, attend to the smallest things without neglect, maintain loyalty and trustworthiness without weariness, and the world will come of its own accord. Hold fast to unity like heaven and earth, attend to small things like the sun and moon. When loyalty and sincerity overflow within and radiate outward, taking shape across the four seas — will the world not be drawn in from every corner? What need is there to summon it?'

Critics say: 'Xunzi did not measure up to Confucius.' This is not so. Xunzi was pressed by a disordered age, constrained by harsh punishments. Above there was no worthy ruler; below he encountered the violence of Qin. Ritual propriety and duty were not practiced, education was not achieved, the humane were constrained and straitened, the world was shrouded in darkness, those of complete conduct were censured, and the feudal lords were in great upheaval.