Dòngsǐ bù kǎo dēng qián huǒ; èsǐ bù tiǎn māo shèng shí.

凍死不烤燈前火, 餓死不舔貓剩食。

Lit [Even if you're] freezing to death, never warm [yourself] by a lamp, [and even if you're] starving to death, never lick a cat's leftovers.

Fig Even if one is in difficult circumstances, one should not compromise one's moral integrity.

Note [See also dòngsǐ yíngfēng below.]

Topics CONDUCT INTEGRITY MORALITY POVERTY