A gentleman loves money and gets it in a wise way. This is from "Zengguang Xianwen".

Confucius said: "To have money and status, this is what everyone aspires to, but if it is not obtained through the way of "Tao", a gentleman will not accept it; to be poor and lowly, this is what everyone desires. It's disgusting, but it can't be gotten rid of without using "Tao" methods. If a gentleman leaves benevolence and righteousness, can he still get a reputation for evil? Never leave the "Tao". This is true when you are in a hurry, and it is also true when you are wandering around."

Benevolence and Tao are the foundation and the principle of life. Therefore, no matter whether you are rich or poor, whether you are in a hurry or when you are displaced, you must not violate this foundation and principle. In the words of Mencius, it is still the famous saying: "Wealth cannot be lustful, and poverty cannot be moved." Extended information

"Zengguang Xianwen" is also known as "Xianwen of the Past", "Xianwen of Ancient and Modern Times" ", is a collection of ancient teachings and folk proverbs, and is an enlightenment book for children in ancient China. The title of the book was first seen in the opera "The Peony Pavilion" during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. From this, it can be inferred that the book was written during the Wanli period at the latest.

Later, after continuous additions by literati in the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was changed into its current form, called "Zengguang Xianwen", commonly known as "Zengguang Xianwen". Various proverbs about dealing with things are very philosophical and reflect various aspects of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. People say that "you can speak well after reading Zengguang, and you can travel around the world after reading Yuxue".

The author has never seen any book records. He only knows that the Confucian scholar Zhou Xitao redid it during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. It is likely to be the crystallization of folk creation. From the first volume of Gao Yang's "The Complete Biography of Hu Xueyan: Stepping into the Clouds": "A gentleman loves money and gets it in a proper way. If it is your old master's duty, he will naturally do his duty." The explanation is: A gentleman only wants the property obtained in the right way and does not want ill-gotten wealth.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-A gentleman loves money and gets it in a proper way