Chinese idiom · 成语
为富不仁
Meaning
Rich but not humane; wealth without compassion.
Character by character
Origin and story
Philosophical sayingIn the Mencius, 'Teng Wen Gong, Part One,' the discussion turns to how a humane ruler should live modestly and limit what he takes from the people. Mencius then quotes Yang Hu: pursuing wealth is incompatible with benevolence, while pursuing benevolence does not lead to wealth. The words are therefore presented as Yang Hu's saying within Mencius's argument, not as a new phrase coined by Mencius himself.
The political context is important: extracting resources must answer to moral limits. Today's idiom condemns the selfish or cruel conduct of wealthy people; it should not be taken as proof that every prosperous person is unkind.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
他住着豪宅却故意拖欠工人工资，实在是为富不仁。
He lives in a mansion yet deliberately withholds his workers' wages—a shameful abuse of wealth.
Strong moral criticism of a wealthy person's lack of kindness or justice.