Extravagance or Parsimony? The Lesser of Two Evils

By / / arrogance, choice, extravagance, frugality, golden mean, humility, Shu Er VII, Shu Er VII Chapter 36, The Analects
Confucius said: Luxury breeds arrogance, thrift leads to meanness. If one must err, choose meanness over arrogance.

Extravagance leads to insubordination (arrogance), and parsimony (stinginess) leads to meanness. It is better to be mean than to be insubordinate (arrogant).

奢则不孙，俭则固。与其不孙也，宁固。

Source: The Analects, Shu Er VII, Chapter 36

Author: Confucius

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