Mencius - Book 7, Part 1, Chapter 23

Mencius said, 'Let it be seen to that their fields of grain and hemp are well cultivated, and make the taxes on them light; so the people may be made rich.

'Let it be seen to that the people use their resources of food seasonably, and expend their wealth only on the prescribed ceremonies: so their wealth will be more than can be consumed.

'The people cannot live without water and fire, yet if you knock at a man's door in the dusk of the evening, and ask for water and fire, there is no man who will not give them, such is the abundance of these things. A sage governs the kingdom so as to cause pulse and grain to be as abundant as water and fire. When pulse and grain are as abundant as water and fire, how shall the people be other than virtuous?'

~ James Legge translation via nothingistic.org ~

 Go here to read the introductory post to this serialized version of the Works of Mencius.