衣い食しょく足たりて礼れい節せつを知しる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

well-fed, well-bred; the poor can't afford manners

Proverb meaning that people can only afford to be polite and observe social niceties once their basic material needs are met.

• 衣い食しょく足たりて礼れい節せつを知しるというように、生せい活かつに余よ裕ゆうがなければ礼れい儀ぎどころではない。

  As the saying goes, 'well-fed, well-bred' — without a comfortable life, one can't afford to worry about manners.