To uphold integrity and trustworthiness even at the cost of one's sustenance or life; to prioritize trust above all else.
在艰难的抉择面前，他决定去食存信，维护自己的良好声誉。
Faced with a difficult choice, he decided to uphold integrity over personal gain, preserving his good reputation.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Zi Gong asked Confucius about the principles of governance. Confucius replied, "With sufficient food, military strength, and the people's trust and integrity, a state can thrive."
Zi Gong then asked, "If one of these must be reluctantly sacrificed, which should it be?" Confucius answered, "Discard the military."
Zi Gong pressed further, "And if another must also be sacrificed?" Confucius stated, "Discard food. From ancient times, all people are destined to die, but without trust, the people cannot stand."
Next Idiom