中国古代圣人孔子曾说过：“劳心者治人，劳力者治于人。”这句话反映了中国传统文化中人的地位等级的划分，也直接影响了人们对职业的选择。现代意义上的“白领阶层”是让人羡慕的对象，而“蓝领阶层”即使工资较高，仍有被人看不起的压力。
在中国，还有另外一句流传甚广的话，叫做“无商不奸”，认为商人“唯利是图”，与君子重义轻利的追求背道而驰，所以在传统文化中经商是被人看不起的职业，但是，随着社会主义市场经济的发展，从商“下海”已经变成许多年轻人择业时的第一选择。现代年轻人选择职业时，已较少传统的观念，更具有现代意识。
【参考译文】
Confucius, an ancient Chinese sage, said: “He who uses his brain will govern; he who uses his strength will be governed.” It is a reflection of the demarcation of status in traditional Chinese culture and a direct determiner of career-choosing in China. White collar workers, in modern sense for those using their brains, are the envy of the society while blue collar workers, working by using their strength, are under pressure of inferiority despite their high wages.
In China, there goes another saying that all merchants are liars. It is generally believed that business is a despised profession in traditional culture as businessmen are profit-oriented, which runs counter to what men of complete virtues should pursue, valuing justice above material gains. However, going into business has become the primary choice for youth in choosing a career, who have shed the shackles of tradition towards modern consciousness.
