It means that they are not afraid of not having much wealth but of uneven distribution.

From Chapter 16 of "The Analects of Confucius: Ji Shi", "Ji Shi will attack Zhuan Yu".

Excerpt from the original text:

Please! A gentleman says something to a sick man, but he must do what he wants. Qiu also heard that those who have a country and a family are not worried about being few but about inequality, and they are not worried about poverty but being uneasy. There is no poverty in Gaijun, there is no widowhood in harmony, and there is no inclination in peace.

Translation: Ran You! A gentleman hates people who don't say what they want to do but make up excuses (to justify their attitude). I heard that scholar-bureaucrats all have their own fiefdoms. They are not afraid of uneven distribution of wealth because of a small amount of wealth, and are not afraid of instability because of a small number of people. If the distribution of property is fair and reasonable, there will be no poverty; if the top and bottom are harmonious, there will be no need to worry about the lack of people; if the society is stable, there will be no danger of the country overturning.

Extended information

The article mainly records three paragraphs of comments made by Confucius on Ji's general's attack on Zhuanyu.

The first paragraph explains his reasons for opposing Ji's attack on Zhuan Yu: First, Zhuan Yu has always had a justifiable political status in the State of Lu; second, Zhuan Yu's geographical location is already within the territory of the State of Lu. , has never posed a threat to Lu. Third, Zhuan Yu had always respected the relationship between monarch and minister, and had no reason to attack. Confucius's words reflected his political views of governing the country with propriety and virtue, and opposed force and hegemony and resorting to force.

In the second paragraph, Confucius quoted Zhou Ren's famous saying: "Chen Li will do it, and those who can't will stop" to criticize Ran You and Ji Lu's attitude of shirking responsibility.

In the third paragraph, Confucius positively explains his political views. This article is a refutation. It is refuted in the form of dialogue. It is powerful and uses historical materials. "In the past, the kings were considered the lords of Eastern Mongolia." "; Famous sayings, "Zhou Ren said: 'Chen Li will make a list, and those who can't will stop. '" The three kinds of arguments are solid and reliable, and the refutation is also well-founded.