Chinese equivalent of an English saying
What is the Chinese equivalent of “Righteousness before profit”?
If you know the English saying "Righteousness before profit", this page shows nearby Chinese wisdom with similar meaning. The comparisons are conceptual, not claims of shared origin, and they are useful for writers, teachers, students, speakers, and cross-cultural readers.
Quick answer: The pages below are the nearest Chinese wisdom matches for the English idea “Righteousness before profit”.
Closest or Most Useful Matches
孟子曰：「有天爵者，有人爵者。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「有天爵者，有人爵者。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「鱼，我所欲也；熊掌，亦我所欲也，二者不可得兼，舍鱼而取熊掌者也。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「鱼，我所欲也；熊掌，亦我所欲也，二者不可得兼，舍鱼而取熊掌者也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「耻之于人大矣。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「耻之于人大矣。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「人之于身也，兼所爱。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「人之于身也，兼所爱。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「五谷者，种之美者也；苟为不熟，不如荑稗。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「五谷者，种之美者也；苟为不熟，不如荑稗。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「万物皆备于我矣。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「万物皆备于我矣。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「自暴者，不可与有言也；自弃者，不可与有为也。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「自暴者，不可与有言也；自弃者，不可与有为也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
告子曰：「性犹湍水也，决诸东方则东流，袂诸西方则西流。」 Meaning in English告子曰：「性犹湍水也，决诸东方则东流，袂诸西方则西流。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
Related but Not Exact
公孙丑问曰：「高子曰：『小弁，小人之诗也。」』 Meaning in English公孙丑问曰：「高子曰：『小弁，小人之诗也。」』: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「矢人岂不仁于函人哉？」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「矢人岂不仁于函人哉？」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「仁之胜不仁也，犹水胜火。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「仁之胜不仁也，犹水胜火。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「仕非为贫也，而有时乎为贫；娶妻非为养也，而有时乎为养。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「仕非为贫也，而有时乎为贫；娶妻非为养也，而有时乎为养。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「吾固愿见，今吾尚病，病愈，我且往见，夷子不来！」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「吾固愿见，今吾尚病，病愈，我且往见，夷子不来！」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「言人之不善，当如后患何？」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「言人之不善，当如后患何？」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「敬叔父乎？」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「敬叔父乎？」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
告子曰：「食色，性也。」 Meaning in English告子曰：「食色，性也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
Broader Context Pages
孟子曰：「仁，人心也；义，人路也。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「仁，人心也；义，人路也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「于答是也何有？」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「于答是也何有？」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「仁之实，事亲是也；义之实，从兄是也。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「仁之实，事亲是也；义之实，从兄是也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「大人者，言不必信，行不必果，惟义所在。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「大人者，言不必信，行不必果，惟义所在。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「欲贵者，人之同心也。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「欲贵者，人之同心也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
孟子曰：「今有无名之指，屈而不信，非疾痛害事也，如有能信之者，则不远秦楚之路，为指之不若人也。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「今有无名之指，屈而不信，非疾痛害事也，如有能信之者，则不远秦楚之路，为指之不若人也。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and…
孟子曰：「舜之居深山之中，与木石居，与鹿豕游，其所以异于深山之野人者几希。」 Meaning in English孟子曰：「舜之居深山之中，与木石居，与鹿豕游，其所以异于深山之野人者几希。」: Chinese quote by Mencius, with pinyin, source confidence, English meaning, Western equivalent, and practical use.
Common Mistake and Safe Use
Use these links as conceptual bridges, not as proof that the English proverb and the Chinese saying have the same source. If you need academic or speech use, open the source-backed pages first and cite the original Chinese text.
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Questions People Ask
Is this the exact Chinese translation of “Righteousness before profit”?
No. It is a conceptual equivalent or nearby idea. The page links Chinese sayings and classical quotes that English readers can understand through this familiar phrase.
Can I use these comparisons in writing?
Yes. Use them as explanatory comparisons and cite the original Chinese source when a page lists one.