仲孫它諫曰：「子為魯上卿，妾不衣帛，馬不食粟，人其以子為愛，且不華國也。
」文子曰：「然乎？
“I have noticed that the mothers and fathers of the people in our state capital wear coarse clothing and eat beans and tubers—that is why I dare not do as you advise.
吾觀國人之父母衣麤食蔬，吾是以不敢。
Besides, I have heard that a man of quality uses virtue to make a state glorious, not concubines and horses.
且吾聞君子以德華國，不聞以妾與馬。
夫德者，得於我，又得於彼，故可行。
Virtue, please note, is a thing that can be obtained both from oneself and from others; that is what makes it work.
若淫於奢侈，沉於文章，不能自反，何以守國？
」仲孫它慚而退。
If I gave rein to extravagant tastes, surrounded myself with showy objects, and didn’t know enough to reverse my ways, how could I govern the state?” Zhongsun Tuo withdrew, ashamed.