"If you are poor, you can be good for yourself alone; if you are prosperous, you can help the world." comes from "Mencius: Doing Your Heart". The original sentence is "If you are poor, you can be good for yourself alone; if you are prosperous, you can help the world." It means "When you don't have ambitions, clean yourself and cultivate yourself personally." Moral character, when achieved, will make the world like it."

Original text

Mencius said to Goujian of the Song Dynasty: "Is Zi likes to travel?" I say Ziyou: When people know it, they are also clamoring (3); When people don't know it, they are also clamoring. "

Said: "How can one be so arrogant? . Poverty does not undermine justice, so a scholar will gain oneself; if he achieves, he will not be disappointed, so the people will not be disappointed. In ancient times, if people have ambitions, they will benefit the people; if they fail to achieve ambitions, they will be good for themselves. If they are poor, they will benefit the world. ”

Notes

① Song Goujian: Personal name, surname Song, first name Goujian, life unknown. ②Travel; refers to lobbying. Xiaoxiao: A peaceful and contented look. ④Get yourself: that is, get yourself.

Famous story:

Mencius said to Song Goujian: "Do you like to lobby the monarchs of various countries? I tell you the attitude of lobbying: others understand and you are peaceful and contented; others do not understand and you are peaceful "Song Goujian asked: "How can we be peaceful and contented?"

Mencius said: "Thus, a scholar can be peaceful and contented if he respects morality and loves benevolence and righteousness. When you are poor, you do not lose your benevolence and righteousness; when you are prosperous, you do not deviate from your morality. Appear in the world. When you are poor, you can do good to yourself. When you are prosperous, you can do good to the world."