Quote by Xunzi: “If there is no government, there can be no society.”

Xunzi argues for the absolute necessity of strong governmental authority and social order to prevent chaos and ensure collective well-being. He believed that without laws and leadership, humanity's innate selfishness would lead to constant conflict, making organized communal life impossible and rendering society unsustainable.

Living through a period of intense warfare and political instability, Xunzi saw the breakdown of social order firsthand. His philosophy underscored the critical role of strong governance and hierarchical structure in maintaining peace and prosperity.

Chinese Confucian philosopher who lived approximately 312–230 BCE and argued against Mencius that human nature is inherently self-interested and must be shaped by education and ritual. His thought influenced the Legalist school that guided the Qin dynasty's unification of China. His collected essays are a major text of Chinese classical philosophy.