ON UPRIGHTNESS AND CORRUPTION

All the Chinese dynasties were infected with corruption by government officials who abused their position.[1] People in official positions often felt that the low salaries that they received from the state were not sufficient, and they expected to receive benefits, which were not considered as bribes, from the public they served. Bribes were considered as such only if the amount of money demanded for the service was higher than that which was customary. A government official who was not ready to accept any addition to his wages from public service was considered to be an ideal individual.

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见(jiàn)利(lì)忘(wàng)义(yì)
Sees profits and forgets about righteousness 

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一(yī)介(jiè)不(bú)取(qǔ)

Literally: Does not take anything.

Said of a righteous government official who does not unfairly take anything for himself.

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千(qiān)金(jīn)不(bú)死(sǐ)白(bái)金(jīn)不(bú)刑(xíng)

[Pay] a thousand [pieces of] gold and you will not die; [pay] a hundred [pieces of] gold and you will not be punished

This was used to describe corrupt judges in traditional China.

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当(dāng)权(quán)若(ruò)不(bú)行(xíng)方(fāng)便(bian)如(rú)入(rù)宝(bǎo)山(shān)空(kōng)手(shǒu)回(huí)

Being in a position of power without having money to spare, can be likened to entering a mountain of treasures and returning empty-handed

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大(dà)不(bù)正(zhèng)小(xiǎo)不(bú)敬(jìng)

[When] the adults are not upright the young do not respect them

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走(zǒu)后(hòu)门(mén)

Literally: entering through the back door.

                                                          Using back-door connections

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身(shēn)正(zhèng)不(bú)怕(pà)影(yǐng)斜(xié)  /  歪(wāi)

Literally: An upright body position is not afraid of a slanted/ curved shadow.

A righteous person is not afraid of slander and mud-slinging.

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清(qīng)酒(jiǔ)红(hóng)人(rén)面(miàn)财(cái)帛(bó)动(dòng)人(rén)心(xīn)

[Just as] sake (Japanese rice wine) reddens peoples' faces, wealth transforms peoples' hearts

Wealth can influence the decisions of people.

Another version of this idiom:   

白(bái)酒(jiǔ)红(hóng)人(rén)面(miàn)黄(huáng)金(jīn)黑(hēi)世(shì)心(xīn)

[Just as] white liquor reddens the faces of people, gold blackens their hearts

 

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阎(yán)罗(luó)王(wáng)面(miàn)前(qián)须(xū)没(méi)放(fàng)回(huí)的(de)鬼(guǐ)

The king of hell does not release demons who place themselves in front of him 

A government official (in traditional China) would never return the bribes that he received.

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烧(shāo)香(xiāng)得(dé)罪(zuì)菩(pú)萨(sà)没(méi)有(yǒu)诚(chéng)心(xīn)

Burns incense while offending Buddha – dishonest

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饭(fàn)疏(shū)食(shí)饮(yǐn)水(shuǐ)曲(qǔ)肱(gōng)而(ér)枕(zhěn)之(zhī)乐(lè)亦(yì)在(zài)其(qí)中(zhōng)矣(yǐ)不(bù)义(yì)而(ér)富(fù)且(qiě)贵(guì)於(yū)我(wǒ)如(rú)浮(fú)云(yún)。

With coarse food to eat, with water to drink and a bent arm as a pillow – there is still happiness. Wealth and respect improperly obtained, seem to me like floating clouds.

(Analects VII, 16) *

道(dào)不(bù)拾(shí)遗(yí)

No one picks up lost things on the street

A society dominated by honesty and integrity. 

A time of harmony and stability.

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没(méi)做(zuò)亏(kuī)心(xīn)事(shì)不(bú)怕(pà)鬼(guǐ)叫(jiào)门(mén)

He who has not done anything against his conscience, is not afraid of demons knocking at his door 

In English they say:

A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder

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道(dào)不(bù)拾(shí)遗(yí)

No one picks up lost things on the street

A society dominated by honesty and integrity. 

A time of harmony and stability.

 

 

 

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[1] See also the chapter on ruling.