渇かっしても盗とう泉せんの水みずを飲のまず

expression

better starve than fatten on ill-gotten wealth; don't lower yourself to unjust acts, no matter how desperate you are

A proverb meaning one should maintain integrity even in extreme hardship. The literal meaning is 'even if thirsty, do not drink from the spring called Robber's Spring'.

• 彼かれはどんなに困こまっても不ふ正せいな金かねには手てを出ださない。まさに「渇かっしても盗とう泉せんの水みずを飲のまず」だ。

  No matter how hard up he is, he won't touch dirty money. He truly lives by the proverb 'better starve than fatten on ill-gotten wealth'.

• 「渇かっしても盗とう泉せんの水みずを飲のまず」という言こと葉ばを胸むねに刻きざんで、正ただしい道みちを歩あゆみたい。

  I want to walk the righteous path, keeping in mind the saying 'don't lower yourself to unjust acts, no matter how desperate you are'.