To be rich and noble without justice is like floating clouds to me "The Analects of Confucius"
How should a person view fame, fortune and wealth in life? Confucius's "The Analects" and the Western "The Analects of Confucius" There are incisive discussions on this in the Bible. The Analects of Confucius says: "Wealth and honor obtained unjustly are like floating clouds to me." The Bible says: "He who seeks wealth with a deceitful tongue takes it for himself." Death; the wealth gained is just a floating cloud that blows here and there."
From this point of view, the sages of the East and the West had similar understandings of fame, fortune and wealth in the world! There is no shortage of people who live in poverty and enjoy happiness in the Chinese history. An elegant man, the poet Li Bai has the open-mindedness and heroism of "a thousand gold pieces have been scattered and come back again". In traditional Chinese culture, the happiness of life lies in having one's own ambitions and fun, and does not need to rely on material wealth. There is no need for false glory. Stealing wealth and glory unreasonably, illegally, and by any means is a very shameful thing. "Being rich and noble unjustly is like a floating cloud to me." This is a famous saying of Confucius, and it is also what Confucius views and seeks. The specific principle of obtaining wealth is that it must be in line with "righteousness" and "benevolence". If it is obtained contrary to this, it will be regarded as a passing cloud and not worth it. At the same time, it also shows that he is willing to live in poverty as sweet as a cake and is content with poverty. These two things. A famous sentence comes from "The Analects of Confucius." "Shu Er": "Confucius said: 'Eat sparingly with rice, drink water, bend your arms and rest on it, and enjoy it; wealth and honor gained through unrighteousness are like floating clouds to me.'". It means: Eat coarse grains, drink plain water, and bend your head. I enjoy it even if I use my arms as a pillow. Wealth and honor obtained through unfair means are like floating clouds in the sky to me." In Confucius' mind, doing justice is the highest value of life. Between rich and poor, When there is a conflict between morality and justice, he would rather suffer poverty than give up morality and justice. Confucius believed that a gentleman with ideals and ambitions would not run around for his own food, clothing, and shelter. "Sparse food and drink, and bend your arms to rest on your pillow." For people with ideals, it can be said that they enjoy it. This kind of happiness is the effect of walking on the right path in life, as the saying goes, "Follow your heart's desires without going beyond the rules." Confucius regarded wealth and splendor that was not in line with the Tao as if it were in heaven. It is like floating clouds, and it is resolutely not accepted. Therefore, if a gentleman wants to achieve a noble spiritual realm, he must first be free from the temptation of the external material environment, further get rid of the confusion of vanity, and take pleasure in suffering in a difficult living environment.< /p>