Confucius said, "Scholars are determined to the Tao, but those who are ashamed of clothes and food are not enough to discuss." (Analects.) Liren Chapter 49) He believes that scholars should aspire to benevolence, not materialistic pursuits, and those who are ashamed to eat coarse grains and wear rags are not worthy of discussing problems together.
When praising Yan Hui, Confucius also said: "Virtuous, Hui! A spoonful of food, a scoop of drink, in the alleys, people are unbearable, and they will not change their pleasures. Virtuous, back! (Analects.) Yongye Chapter 611) What made him repeatedly amazed was to eat a bamboo basket of rice, drink a melon and a scoop of water, live in a dilapidated and narrow alley, and live in poverty that others can't stand.
Therefore, later generations often think that Confucius praised poverty, and even more so regarded fame and fortune as filth, believing that the poorer the nobler, and the richer the more shameful.
This is probably a major misreading of Confucius's view of wealth, and the real Confucius was not against wealth. He even said, "Rich can be sought, even if the whip is a man, I will do it." (Analects.) 712) If wealth can be pursued, even if it is a lowly whipping servant, Confucius is willing. How can such a statement be against wealth?
Moreover, Confucius objectively admitted that "wealth and nobility are what man wants" (Analects. Liren Chapter 45) Wealth and social status, which is almost an instinctive pursuit of man, is completely opposed to human instinct, what is the need? Confucius believed that wealth is not a bad thing, it is better than poverty, so he said: "Poverty without resentment, rich without arrogance." (Analects.) Constitutional Questions, 1410) It is easier to be rich but not arrogant, but it is difficult to be poor but not resentful.
As a "scholar" class of the ruling class and a famous great educator, in the face of the question of how to manage the people, do you guess what position Confucius would rank in "educating the people"? When traveling around the world, Ran You asked his teacher, "The population of the country is already so large, what should I do next?" Confucius said, "Make them rich." Ran You said: "What should I do when I get rich?" Confucius said, "Educate them." (Analects.) Sub-Road Chapter 139) Is it surprising to put the prosperity of the people in the first place, before "education"?
Therefore, Confucius was not against wealth, and if he did, he was only against the wrong attitude towards wealth and the wrong means of acquiring it.
Yan Hui was praised not because of his poverty, but because he put material wealth behind, and poverty did not change his pursuit of benevolence. That is, he did what Confucius said, "Poverty is happy, and wealth is courteous" (Analects. Learning and Learning" 115) If a wealthy person is kind, he will also be praised by Confucius.
Confucius said, "There is a way in the state, but the poor and the lowly, and the shame; There is no way, rich and noble, and shameful. (Analects.) Taber Chapter 813) The country has a way, and it is a shame to be poor and despicable; It is a shame for the country to be unreasonable, and to be rich and noble. So being rich is not a shame, being rich when you shouldn't be rich is a shame.
Confucius said, "A gentleman loves money and takes it in a proper way." "Unrighteous and rich and expensive, like floating clouds to me. (Analects.) 716) Eating whole grains, drinking water, and bending your arms as pillows are also fun. Only with a correct view of wealth can we have a happy outlook on life.