Ancient Wisdom

I love ancient wisdoms, proverbs, and famous quotes. They often serve as some guidelines / reminders / pointers for how I should live my life in times of adversity and prosperity, although it’s not always easy to follow. Below is a list of my favorites I’d like to share with you. They really unveil a lot of wisdom and truth about life, that we can apply in our daily life and career life. Most of them are of Chinese origin although I know and I’m sure in some cultures there may be similar expressions. If you know any, please let me know.

Note that this is a growing list as I’ll find out more. If you know any good ones of your own culture and want to share with us, please email me or add to the comments below. I’ll be glad to add yours to the list. Enjoy!

1. 顺其自然/ 随遇而安/ 车到山前必有路 Don’t trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.
2. 智者行虑, 必有一失 The best horse stumbles.
3. 冰冻三尺, 非一日之寒 Rome was not built in one day.
4. 双鸟在林,不如一鸟在手 A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
5. 闻啼知鸟,闻言知人 A bird is known by its note and a man by his talk.
6. 二人同心,其利断金 If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal.
7. 无为其所不为,无欲其所不欲,如此而已矣. Don’t do what should not be done; don’t desire what should not be desired. That is all.
8. 学而不思则罔,思而不学则殆. Learning without thinking leads to confusion; thinking without learning ends in danger.
9. 玉不琢,不成器.人不学,不知义. As a jade without chiseling will not become a useful tool, a man without learning will not know the Way.
10. 自食其果 As you make the bed, so you must lie in it.
11. 塞翁失马,安知非福 Danger is next neighbor to security.
12. 失之毫厘，差之千里 A slight mistake will result in a great error in the end.
13. 欲善其事，必先利其器 Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job.
14. 巧妇难为无米之炊 Nobody can accomplish anything without the necessary means.
15. 有志者事竟成 Where there is will, there is a way.
16. 十年树木，百年树人 It takes ten years to grow a tree, while a sound education program may require ten times as long before it takes root.
17. 谋事在人，成事在天 Man proposes, but God disposes.
18. 近朱者赤，近墨者黑 Good companions have good influence while bad ones have bad influence.
19. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子 How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s lairs.
20. 当局者迷，旁观者清 The spectators see the chess game better than the players.
21. 善有善报，恶有恶报 Good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil.
22. 识时务者为俊杰 Whoever understands the times is/will be a good, successful man.
23. 万事俱备，只欠东风 Everything is ready, and all that we need is an east wind?
24. 一寸光阴一寸金 An inch of time is an inch of gold.
25. 旧的不去，新的不来 No going of the old, no coming of the new.
26. 一失足成千古恨 A wrong step can cause a lasting sorrow.
27. 事实胜于雄辩 Facts speak louder than words.
28. 活到老学到老 One is never too old to learn.
29. 时势造英雄 A hero is nothing but a product of his time.
30. 欲速则不达 Haste makes waste.
31. 为人不做亏心事,半夜不怕鬼敲门 A clear conscience is a sure card.
32. 大器晚成 Late fruit keeps well.
33. 祸兮福所倚,福兮祸所伏 Misfortune might be a blessing in disguises.
34. 本性难移 You cannot make a crab walk straight.