Yīshí zú érhòu zhī lǐ yì.

衣食足而後知禮義。

Lit [Only] after [being well] dressed [and well] fed [does one] know courtesy.

Fig Material well-being enables people to be courteous. Only when a certain basic level of material sufficiency has been attained can one expect people to observe the rules of politeness. “Well fed, well bred.”

Note [Compare bǎonuǎn shēng xiánshì above; see also the following entry.]

Topics CLOTHING CONDITIONS COURTESY FOOD