Mencius claims curbing excessive desires is the finest way to nurture one’s innate good heart. Few desires let people retain most original virtue, while rampant cravings dim one’s inherent moral nature, forming a core Confucian self-cultivation principle.
When a man becomes angry like a raging fire and his desires bubble up like boiling water, he knows full well that this is not right; nevertheless, he persists in his folly.
When you have material gains to pursue, do not make hasty decisions to do so simply because of their easy accessibility.
Self-conceit and arrogance are the result of evil influences from outside oneself. Such influences must be suppressed; only then can healthy trends be encouraged.