A magistrate came to the Master and said, "Is it not both consummate conduct (理) and moral (义) to pay one's debts? Surely only a disordered State would promote the forgiveness of debt, for it creates laxity in the soul."
The Master replied: "This is why Master Kong (孔子) called merchants (商) the lowest of the four occupations (四民). A dog despises a master who keeps him always on a rope, and a son will hate a father who never lets him leave the house. A plant that remains potted will never sprout (端), much less flower. So it is with a society who can recite only receipts instead of poetry and sacred scripture- it will never again produce great men who will venerate their ancestors."