《孟子·公孙丑章句上·第二节》
不是他认可的君主不侍奉，不是他认可的民众不使唤，世道太平就出来做官，世道昏乱便退而隐居，这是伯夷的处世态度。
非其君不事，非其民不使；治则进，乱则退，伯夷也。
He would not serve anyone but a worthy ruler, would not employ anyone but a qualified man, would appear in government when the world was well-ordered, and retire when it was in chaos; such was Bo Yi's conduct.