During the Warring States period, Lord Wen of Wei conquered the state of Zhongshan and appointed his son, Ji, to govern the region.
One day, Crown Prince Ji met Wenhou's teacher Tian Zifang on the road and hurriedly dismounted to pay his respects: "Master, where are you going?"
Tian Zifang, a disciple of Confucius's student Zigong, was appointed as a tutor by Marquis Wen of Wei, who revered Confucian teachings. When Crown Prince Ji greeted him with utmost respect, Tian Zifang ignored him entirely, lifting his chin high as if he hadn't heard a word.
Prince Ji felt deeply embarrassed, but since the man was his father's teacher, he couldn't lose his temper. Thinking, "What do you, a poor scholar, have to be so proud of? I'll make you lose face too," he then asked:
“Master, should the wealthy and powerful be proud, or should the poor and humble be proud?” Crown Prince Ji asked haughtily. Tian Zifang replied, “What do you think?” “Of course the wealthy should be proud!” the prince declared. “Why?” Tian Zifang pressed. “Because the rich lack for nothing, hold power and influence, and command everyone’s respect,” the prince answered smugly. Tian Zifang gave a cold laugh and said, “I think the poor and humble should be proud!” The prince, unconvinced, retorted, “What makes you say that?”
Tian Zifang patted Crown Prince Ji on the shoulder and said, "You don't even understand such a simple truth! Don't you know that an arrogant ruler will lose his kingdom, an arrogant minister will lose his office? But a poor and humble scholar, if his views clash with the ruler's or his advice is ignored, can simply leave for another country—it's like tossing away a pair of straw sandals, nothing to regret!"
Crown Prince Ji left in great displeasure.
Later, the idiom "Poor but Proud" came to refer to contempt for the powerful and wealthy.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Hereditary House of Wei"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "贫贱骄人" came to describe contempt for the powerful and wealthy.