Duke Huan asked Guan Zhong: “Is there a boundary to wealth?”
Guan Zhong answered: “The bank sets the limit of water where water ends; contentment sets the limit of wealth where one’s needs are satisfied. If people cannot stop once their wants are fulfilled, they will never find the borderline of wealth.”
Note
The real limit of wealth lies in personal contentment. Endless greed makes people chase fortune without end.
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher, cites this dialogue to warn against excessive greed of monarchs.
Duke Huan of Qi
Duke Huan was a renowned overlord of the Spring and Autumn Period.
Guan Zhong
Distinguished prime minister of Qi, accomplished statesman and thinker.
Dialogue between monarch and minister
Questions about wealth and desire were common in pre-Qin political discussions on governing self-cultivation.
Ancient outlook on wealth
Traditional Chinese thought holds contentment is the natural boundary of material gain, unlimited craving leads to loss and ruin. Hence the saying: Who is content, needs fear no shame; Who knows to stop, incurs no blame.
Legalist governing idea
Rulers’ unrestrained avarice harms national governance, so self-restraint is required.
桓公問管仲「富有涯乎」？答曰：「水之以涯，其無水者也。富之以涯，其富已足者也。人不能自止於足，而亡其富之涯乎。」
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