諺語 · a single proverb
君子愛財，取之有道
What does 君子愛財，取之有道 (jūn zǐ ài cái qǔ zhī yǒu dào) mean?
君子愛財，取之有道 (jūn zǐ ài cái qǔ zhī yǒu dào) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "the noble person loves wealth, but obtains it by proper means." In use it means: Even a person of virtue may desire wealth, but must acquire it honestly; the means must match the goal. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Horse.
Literally: "the noble person loves wealth, but obtains it by proper means."
The reading
The desire for prosperity is not shameful; what carries it is. The person of principle does not close their eyes to resources but opens them only along the paths that their own conscience can accompany. The wealth acquired by means the owner would not name in public is already spending itself in the form of the secret it keeps.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk saying (very common in business moral culture)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Horse, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 君子愛財，取之有道 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 君子愛財，取之有道 (jūn zǐ ài cái qǔ zhī yǒu dào) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk saying (very common in business moral culture). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 君子愛財，取之有道?
In Mandarin it is jūn zǐ ài cái qǔ zhī yǒu dào. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 君子愛財，取之有道 aloud in Mandarin.