He believed if he accepted other people's fish, he would have to accommodate himself to them. If he accommodates himself to them, he will break law someday and be removed from post. At that time, although he still loves fish, maybe there will be no one to bring him fish.
Now he buys fish with his salary, it is very convenient although he has to pay for it himself. As long as he was not removed from the post, he had enouth salary to buy fish and had nothing to worry about.
魯國宰相公儀休非常愛吃魚,得知他這一嗜好的魯國人紛紛拎著魚,送到他家來。
公儀休對這些送上門來的魚一概拒絕。
他認為,如果接受了別人的魚,就會露出遷就別人的神氣,一旦遷就,就會在行動上違背法令,這樣做下,總有一天會被罷官。到了那個時候,盡管仍然愛吃魚,卻不一定有人再送上門來。
而現(xiàn)在用自己的俸祿買魚吃,雖然花的是自己的錢,但非常方便。只要不被免職,充足的俸祿就可以用來買魚吃,也不愁吃不到魚。