Quote by Xunzi: “The purpose of ritual is to make the distinction between people.”

Xunzi saw ritual not just as empty ceremony, but as a crucial tool for establishing social hierarchy and maintaining order within society. Rituals, through their specific forms and roles, clearly delineate positions and responsibilities, preventing confusion and promoting stability among people, thus shaping social behavior.

In Confucian thought, ritual (li) was central to ethics and governance. Xunzi emphasized its practical function in establishing and reinforcing social roles and norms, believing it essential for creating an orderly and harmonious society out of potentially chaotic human nature.

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.