According to Mencius Teng Wengong, a man named Jing Chun told Mencius that Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi, two famous lobbyists at that time, were "courageous people" to show off. Gongsun Yan once admired the Five Kingdoms, and Zhang Yi once admired the State of Qin. They are both famous authorities. Jingchun boasted that he was a "courageous man", saying that when Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi got angry, there would be a war, which frightened the governors. Once they calm down, the world will be calm, so they are omnipotent "brave men".
Mencius was very dissatisfied with Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi. They specialized in courtship and intrigue, and often started wars for no reason. But Jingchun even touted them as "courageous people" and resolutely refuted them. He said that Gongsun Yan and Zhang Yi were just people who obeyed the monarch and went with the flow without principle. What a gentleman this is!
Mencius refuted it very well. Obviously, it is extremely absurd for Jing Chun to talk about the standard of a gentleman by power. After refuting Jing Chun's fallacy, Mencius made a clear explanation and definition of what is the standard of a true gentleman. In his view, a real gentleman has two criteria: first, he must have the lofty ambition and ambition of "doing his best in the world" and be able to promote this avenue to the broad masses of the people; Second, there must be a moral ethics of "wealth can't be lewd, poverty can't be moved, and powerful people can't be bent". Only in this way can you be considered a gentleman.
These words of Mencius can still guide us to explore the value of life today.
Imagine being alive, having more wealth, or being an official is naturally a good thing, but sometimes it can become a bad thing. Some people have more wealth, or they are satisfied when they become officials, and they are arrogant and extravagant. Therefore, corruption and depravity will arise from this. When they become rich, they will indulge themselves and confuse their minds. It can be seen that wealth can't be lewd, which is not only a warning of life, but also a proper moral integrity.
Poverty is not what people want, but it is not a shameful and terrible thing. Although a person is poor and humble, he is upright, does not eat what he has earned, does not frown, and does not get rid of poverty through improper means. People are not lacking in ambition; "If you are poor, you will change your mind, and you will not lose your gentle and graceful ambition." Noble personality will not change because of poverty and lowliness. This is the real connotation of "poverty and lowliness can't move".
Cherish reputation and keep honesty, which is the moral bottom line of being a man. This requires us to persevere, stand firm and stand erect even in the face of high pressure, arrogance, power and force.