Stick #44: Put Righteousness First (Neutral)
义字当头天地宽，见利忘义祸相连。守义方是立身本，不义之财莫贪沾。
Plain reading
This lot says put duty before profit. Greed without principle brings chain of harm. Stand on right — do not touch unjust gain; righteous road is wide road.
Interpretation
"Put Righteousness First" is a neutral stick. Righteousness opens sky; profit without right invites trouble. Right is root of standing — unclean money do not touch.
Advice
When profit comes, ask: is it righteous? If not, refuse. When both possible, right first, profit second.
Drawn from Mencius — "choose righteousness over life" — and Guan Yu releasing Cao Cao — honor over gain.