Serving Without Accepting a Salary
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
孟子去齐,居休。公孙丑问曰:「仕而不受禄,古之道乎?」
English translation
Mencius left Qi and stayed at Xiu. Gong Sun Chou asked, “To hold office but not accept salary—was that the way of antiquity?”
Original Chinese text
曰:「非也。于崇,吾得见王;退而有去志,不欲变,故不受也。继而有师命,不可以请。久于齐,非我志也。」
English translation
He said, “No. At Chong I was able to see the king. After withdrawing I had the intention to leave and did not wish to change it; therefore I did not accept salary. Subsequently there was a military order, and I could not request leave. Remaining long in Qi was not my intention.”