When national politics is in line with the Dao, he will come out to do things; when national politics is not in line with the Dao, he will live in seclusion. When national politics is in line with the Dao, poverty and humbleness should be considered a shame; when national politics is in line with the Dao, wealth and high status should be considered a shame.

Confucius judged whether something should be done or not. Whether it was done right or not was based on whether it conformed to the Tao and whether it conformed to benevolence and righteousness. Whether you are pursuing wealth and material things is not the first criterion. Just like Confucius said, "Wealth and honor can be sought. Even though I am a whip-wielding man, I will do it; wealth and honor cannot be sought, so I will do what I like."

The standard for what is acceptable and unacceptable is whether it conforms to Tao and Tao. Benevolence and righteousness, and the pursuit of wealth and material things are understandable in themselves, as long as they do not violate the highest standards. A gentleman loves money and gets it in the right way!

Extended information:

In an era when the kings are unrighteous, such as the time of Jie and Zhou, it is too dangerous to be a loyal minister, and you will be killed at every turn, just like Guan Long Pang Bigan, too If it's dangerous, it's better to hide and become an official. Jun Boyu is such a person, "If you use it, you will do it, if you leave it, you will hide it." He is a gentleman.

However, Confucius himself could not do what Yan Zhijian did, which does not mean that he did not admire those who violated Yan Zhijian. That’s why Confucius admired Shi Yu, who “admonished him with his body when he was alive, and with his corpse when he died.”

When the king is immoral, he cannot be a loyal minister. He can only be a treacherous minister, harming the world with the king. So at this time, it is a shame to make money as an official because it is ill-gotten wealth.

Confucius admired people like Ning Wuzi. He hoped that if the king was upright, he would become an official. If he was not upright, he would run away. He will also marry his niece to Nan Rong, because Nan Rong is not a waste when he is righteous, and he will not rebel against the king and forcefully advise him when he is ungrateful.

Confucius’s moral standards were not high, he just followed the good path. He despises treacherous ministers, but he will not be a foolish and loyal minister who admonishes to death; he hopes to be rich, but he does not want ill-gotten gains; he himself cannot be a strong-willed person who is not afraid of life and death, but he admires such a person.