Divinely-inspired culture believes that to be human is to have high moral standards and integrity. No worldly hardships or barriers, wealth nor lust would cause a person of moral integrity to change their moral conduct, code of honor, or righteousness. To develop this standard, one must control one's desires and greed. The following are stories about Confucius and his disciples that illustrate these principles.
 
Once when Confucius went to visit Lord Jing of the Kingdom of Qi, the lord gave him an area of land called Lingqiu for the purpose of supporting his livelihood. Confucius turned the offer down. After leaving the Kingdom of Qi, Confucius told his disciples, "Gentlemen shouldn't accept rewards without having earned them. Lord Jing didn't carry out my proposals, yet he offered me that piece of land. He didn't understand my teaching!" So he left the Kingdom of Qi.
 
Zengzi, also called Zeng Can, was also one of Confucius's disciples. He always wore old, ragged clothes on the farm. The King of Lu sent his representative to offer him a fief. The representative said, "Please change your clothes immediately!" Zengzi rejected the offer. The King's representative came back many times to offer him the land. Still Zengzi maintained his refusal. The representative said, "This isn't what you asked for, but it's others who are trying to give it to you. Why don't you accept it?" Zengzi said, "I heard that when one accepts something from someone, the recipient will be afraid of offending the grantor. On the other hand, the grantor will display arrogance. Even if the king were to give me something without showing arrogance, wouldn't I be afraid of offending him?" Therefore, Zengzi never did accept any such fiefs. After hearing the news, Confucius said, "With this kind of integrity, Zengzi has indeed preserved his nobility and moral integrity."
 
Zisi, Confucius' grandson, had a very hard time making a living when he was in the Kingdom of Wei. He could only afford nine meals within twenty days, and had hardly anything to wear. What he wore on his back was no more than rotten cotton clothes, and he didn't even have a jacket to wear. When Tian Zifang, the renowned scholar who tutored the Lord of the Wei Kingdom, heard about this, he had his representative bring Zisi some very warm clothing made of white fox skin. Afraid that Zisi might not accept his offer, Tian Zifang added, "I forget what I gift right away, just like throwing things away." However, Zisi refused the offer. Tian Zifang said, "You don't have what I do, why don’t you accept it?" Zisi said, "I heard that giving things improperly to others is no better than throwing them away in a trench. Although I'm poor, I wouldn't want to be a trench, so I can't accept it."
 
不贪立节
 
在神传文化中认为，为人贵在有气节操守，为了道德义理和正义之事，世俗间的任何艰难险阻和富贵淫乐都不能使之改变。要树立如此节操，重要一点便是要节制自身欲望和贪心。下面便是几个孔子和他的弟子不贪图不义之财，立节守节的小故事。
 
孔子有一次去见齐景公，齐景公送给他廪丘作为供养之地，孔子推辞掉没有接受。出来后孔子对弟子说：“我听说君子有功才能受禄，现在我游说景公，景公并没有实行我的主张，便赐给我廪丘，他太不了解我了！”于是辞行离开了齐国。
 
曾子，又名曾参，是孔子的弟子。他总是身穿破旧的衣服耕作，鲁国国君派人前去封给他一块地作为封邑，使者说：“请您现在就换衣服吧！”曾子没有接受。使者又反复多次来给他送地，曾子仍旧不接受。使者说：“这不是先生您向人要求的，是别人进献给您的，您为甚么就是不接受呢？”曾子说：“我听说，接受了他人的馈赠就会害怕得罪这人，给人家东西的人也会显露骄色。就算国君赐我东西而不向我显露骄色，但我能不害怕得罪他吗？”就这样，曾子最终也没有接受封邑。孔子听说此事后，说：“象曾参这样好品德，足以保全他的节操了。”

子思，名孔，是孔子的孙子。子思在卫国时十分贫寒，他身上穿著破旧棉絮的棉衣，连外衣都没有，二十天只能吃上九顿饭。田子方听说后，派人去赠送给他一白狐皮做的御寒衣服，怕他不接受，故意对他说：“我送给人东西，随即就忘了；我给人东西，就像扔了一样。”子思推辞不接受。田子方说：“我有你没有，你为甚么不接受？”子思说：“我听说，不合本分逾越法度的给人东西不如将东西扔到山沟中，我虽然贫寒，但不愿将自身当作山沟，所以不敢接受。”