かっ
渇
　
し
　
て
　
も
とう
盗
せん
泉
　
の
みず
水
　
を
の
飲
　
ま
　
ず

expression

Proverb.
  1. better starve than fatten on ill-gotten wealth, don't lower yourself to unjust acts, no matter how desperate you are, refraining to drink from a spring called Robber's Spring even if thirsty.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
かっ
渇
　
し
　
て
　
も
とう
盗
せん
泉
　
の
みず
水
　
を
の
飲
　
ま
　
ず
 渇しても盗泉の水を飲まず かっしてもとうせんのみずをのまず

Contained Kanji Breakdown

thirst, dry up, parch
かわ.く　カツ (9th, N1)
water, water radical (no. 85)
さんずい
why, how, when
カツ　なんぞ　いつ (Kentei 1)
day, sun, Japan
ひ　にっ　ニチ (1st, N5)
beggar, beg, give
カツ　カチ　カイ
wrapping enclosure, wrapping radical (no. 20)
ホウ　つつ.む (Kentei 1)
deceased(亡) variant
hidden, mysterious, secret
イン　オン　かく.す
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
steal, rob, pilfer
ぬす.む　トウ (7th, N3)
next, order, sequence
つぎ　ジ　つ.ぐ (3rd, N3)
two-stroke water radical or ice radical (no. 15)
ヒョウ　こおり (Kentei 1)
lack, gap, fail
ケツ　か.ける　ケン (4th, N3)
knife, wrapping enclosure(勹) variant
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
dish, a helping, plate
さら　ベイ (3rd, N2)
spring, fountain
セン　ぜん　いずみ (6th, N2)
white
しろ　ハク　しら- (1st, N5)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
day, sun, Japan
ひ　にっ　ニチ (1st, N5)
water
みず　スイ　み (1st, N5)
water
みず　スイ　み (1st, N5)
drink, smoke, take
の.む　イン　オン (3rd, N4)
eat, food, eat radical (no. 184)
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
good, pleasing, skilled
よ.い　リョウ　ら (4th, N3)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
northeast (Oriental zodiac), stopping, good radical (no. 138)
うしとら　コン (Kentei Pre-1)
day, sun, Japan
ひ　にっ　ニチ (1st, N5)
garment, clothes, dressing
イ　ころも　きぬ (4th, N2)
kettle lid radical (no. 8)
トウ (Kentei 1)
garment(衣) variant
lack, gap, fail
ケツ　か.ける　ケン (4th, N3)
knife, wrapping enclosure(勹) variant