Analects of Confucius 18.2

Hui of Liu-hsia being chief criminal judge, was thrice dismissed from his office. Some one said to him, ‘Is it not yet time for you, sir, to leave this?’ He replied, ‘Serving men in an upright way, where shall I go to, and not experience such a thrice-repeated

dismissal? If I choose to serve men in a crooked way, what necessity is there for me to leave the country of my parents?’