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'.
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'.
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'.
A similar proverb about maintaining dignity in poverty, but focuses on outward appearance rather than moral integrity.
From a classical Chinese story about Confucius, who refused to drink from a spring named 'Robber's Spring' despite his thirst, because the name offended his principles. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase entered Japanese as a set proverb.