Two directions of cultivation
The Xunzi opening makes continued learning imperative; Laozi 48 contrasts daily increase in learning with daily decrease in pursuing the way. Read what each text identifies as the object and outcome of cultivation before reducing the contrast to study versus ignorance.
學不可以已Learning is presented as something that must not stop.
tls · CC BY-SA 4.0 · KR3a0002_001.txt, lines 11–19為學日益，為道日損Learning and pursuing the way are assigned opposite directions.
tls · CC BY-SA 4.0 · KR5c0057_048.txt, lines 14–22Make the comparison explicit
The Xunzi opening makes continued learning imperative; Laozi 48 contrasts daily increase in learning with daily decrease in pursuing the way. Read what each text identifies as the object and outcome of cultivation before reducing the contrast to study versus ignorance.
荀子: Learning is presented as something that must not stop.
老子: Learning and pursuing the way are assigned opposite directions.
Which repeated temporal word organizes the Laozi contrast?
日, day by day, modifies both increase and decrease.
Shared words, images, or constructions do not by themselves establish common meaning, authorship, or origin. An explicit citation is identified only where the wording itself supports it.
zimai · AI-assisted editorial notes · Editorial pilot · not independently reviewed. Original learning material: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source text, scholarly reference, and editorial interpretation remain separately attributed.