開源節流

From Xunzi:

百姓時和，事業得敘者，貨之源也；等賦府庫者，貨之流也。故明主必謹養其和，節其流，開其源，而時斟酌焉。潢然使天下必有餘，而上不憂不足。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]

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百姓时和，事业得叙者，货之源也；等赋府库者，货之流也。故明主必谨养其和，节其流，开其源，而时斟酌焉。潢然使天下必有余，而上不忧不足。 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]

From: Xunzi, c. 3^rd century BCE

Bǎixìng shí hé, shìyè dé xù zhě, huò zhī yuán yě; děngfù fǔkù zhě, huò zhī liú yě. Gù míngzhǔ bì jǐn yǎng qí hé, jié qí liú, kāi qí yuán, ér shí zhēnzhuó yān. Huángrán shǐ tiānxià bì yǒuyú, ér shàng bù yōu bùzú. [Pinyin]

The people being in accord with the proper season and successfully arranging their duties and tasks is the source of wealth; gradations of the tax rate, treasuries, and arsenals are the outflow of wealth. Thus, the enlightened ruler will inevitably be careful to nurture the harmonious accord of the people with the season, restrict the outflow of property, open up its sources, and distribute or dole out goods as the occasion requires. Like a vast flood of surging waters, he will inevitably cause the world to have a surplus, and the ruler will suffer no hardship of inadequacy.

開源節流

1. (figurative) to increase income and reduce spending