獻魚者曰：「天暑市遠，賣之不售，思欲棄之，不若獻之君子。
The fish presenter said, “The day is hot and the market is far away—even if I should try to sell it, no one would buy it.
」孔子再拜受，使弟子掃除，將祭之。
I was about to throw it away but felt that it would be better to present it to you, sir.” Kongzi then bowed twice and accepted the fish.
弟子曰：「夫人將棄之，今夫子將祭之，何也？
He had his disciples sweep the ground in preparation for making a sacrifice to the fish.
」孔子曰：「吾聞之，務施而不腐餘財者，聖人也。
The disciples said, “That man was about to throw it away, and now, sir, you are preparing to sacrifice to it.
今受聖人之賜，可無祭乎？」
Why?” Kongzi said, “I have heard that one who takes charity seriously and does not allow extra things to go to waste unused is a sage.
How can we fail to perform a sacrifice, now that we have received a gift bestowed on us by a sage?”