Proverbs

88 Best Chinese Proverbs and Sayings (WISDOM)

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Top 12 Most Famous Chinese Proverbs in English (BEST)

Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid only of standing still.
Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid only of standing still.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
A man who asks is a fool for five minutes. A man who never asks is a fool for life.
A man who asks is a fool for five minutes. A man who never asks is a fool for life.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one.
Patience is a bitter plant, but its fruit is sweet.
Patience is a bitter plant, but its fruit is sweet.
If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.
If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.
A crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind.
A crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind.
The person who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
The person who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
A man who cannot tolerate small misfortunes can never accomplish great things.
A man who cannot tolerate small misfortunes can never accomplish great things.
A wise man makes his own decisions, but an ignorant man mindlessly follows the crowd.
A wise man makes his own decisions, but an ignorant man mindlessly follows the crowd.
When the winds of change blow, some people build walls, others build windmills.
When the winds of change blow, some people build walls, others build windmills.

14 Wise Chinese Proverbs in English That Will Change Your Life (WISDOM)

One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.
One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.
A little impatience will spoil great plans.
A little impatience will spoil great plans.
He who thinks too much about every step he takes will always stay on one leg.
He who thinks too much about every step he takes will always stay on one leg.
Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
When the heart is at ease, the body is healthy.
When the heart is at ease, the body is healthy.
Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.
Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think. 
Dig the well before you are thirsty.
Dig the well before you are thirsty.
A smile will gain you ten more years of life.
A smile will gain you ten more years of life.
I was angered, for I had no shoes. Then I met a man who had no feet.
I was angered, for I had no shoes. Then I met a man who had no feet.
He who cheats the earth will be cheated by the earth.
He who cheats the earth will be cheated by the earth.
Behave toward everyone as if receiving a guest.
Behave toward everyone as if receiving a guest.
In a group of many words, there is bound to be a mistake somewhere in them.
In a group of many words, there is bound to be a mistake somewhere in them.
Only one who can swallow an insult is a man.
Only one who can swallow an insult is a man.

11 Best Chinese Proverbs on Learning (EDUCATION)

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.
Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand. 
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.
Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.
Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.
Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back.
Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back.
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
If you want to find out about the road ahead, then ask about it from those coming back.
If you want to find out about the road ahead, then ask about it from those coming back.
If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.
If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.
Learn to walk before you run.
Learn to walk before you run.
Learning is a weightless treasure you can always carry easily.
Learning is a weightless treasure you can always carry easily.
If you want your children to have a peaceful life, let them suffer a little hunger and a little coldness.
If you want your children to have a peaceful life, let them suffer a little hunger and a little coldness.

18 Inspirational Chinese Proverbs About Life

Happiness is the best cosmetic.
Happiness is the best cosmetic.
If you bow at all, bow low.
If you bow at all, bow low.
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
A good name is better than a good face.
A good name is better than a good face.
All things change, and we change with them.
All things change, and we change with them.
To know another is not to know the person's face, but to know the person's heart.
To know another is not to know the person’s face, but to know the person’s heart.
Solve one problem, and you keep a hundred others away.
Solve one problem, and you keep a hundred others away.
Even a hare will bite when it is cornered.
Even a hare will bite when it is cornered.
It is easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a good general.
It is easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a good general.
Listening well is as powerful as talking well, and is also as essential to true conversation.
Listening well is as powerful as talking well, and is also as essential to true conversation.
Habits are cobwebs at first; cables at last.
Habits are cobwebs at first; cables at last.
One who stands straight doesn't fear a crooked shadow.
One who stands straight doesn’t fear a crooked shadow.
If you don't do stupid things you won't end up in tragedy.
If you don’t do stupid things you won’t end up in tragedy.
An inch of time is an inch of gold but you can’t buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.
An inch of time is an inch of gold but you can’t buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.
If people are of one heart, even losses can become gold.
If people are of one heart, even losses can become gold.
One beam, no matter how big, cannot support an entire house on its own.
One beam, no matter how big, cannot support an entire house on its own.
No matter how tall the mountain is, it cannot block the sun.
No matter how tall the mountain is, it cannot block the sun.
Do not want others to know what you have done? Better not have done it anyways.
Do not want others to know what you have done? Better not have done it anyways.

14 Funny Chinese Proverbs That Make Absolute Sense

Talk does not cook rice.
Talk does not cook rice.
Experience is a comb which nature gives us when we are bald.
Experience is a comb which nature gives us when we are bald.
Better the cottage where one is merry than the palace where one weeps.
Better the cottage where one is merry than the palace where one weeps.
A hundred no's are less agonizing than one insincere yes.
A hundred no’s are less agonizing than one insincere yes.
The more acquaintances you have, the less you know them.
The more acquaintances you have, the less you know them.
Before preparing to improve the world, first look around your own home three times.
Before preparing to improve the world, first look around your own home three times.
Two good talkers are not worth one good listener.
Two good talkers are not worth one good listener.
Disaster comes from careless talk.
Disaster comes from careless talk.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
A clear conscience never fears midnight knocking.
A clear conscience never fears midnight knocking.
There are two kinds of perfect people: those who are dead, and those who have not been born yet.
There are two kinds of perfect people: those who are dead, and those who have not been born yet.
Married couples tell each other a thousand things without speech.
Married couples tell each other a thousand things without speech.
A clever person turns great troubles into little ones, and little ones into none at all.
A clever person turns great troubles into little ones, and little ones into none at all.

12 Chinese Proverbs About Business and Entrepreneurship

It's better to walk thousands of miles than to read thousands of books.
It’s better to walk thousands of miles than to read thousands of books.
A man without a smiling face must not open shop.
A man without a smiling face must not open shop.
It is easy to open a store - the hard part is keeping it open.
It is easy to open a store – the hard part is keeping it open.
Ripe fruit falls by itself - but it doesn't fall in your mouth.
Ripe fruit falls by itself – but it doesn’t fall in your mouth.
The person who is his own master cannot tolerate another boss.
The person who is his own master cannot tolerate another boss.
It is not the knowing that is difficult, but the doing.
It is not the knowing that is difficult, but the doing.
If you want to avoid being cheated, ask for prices at three different stores.
If you want to avoid being cheated, ask for prices at three different stores.
Guessing is cheap, but guessing wrong can be expensive.
Guessing is cheap, but guessing wrong can be expensive.
A bad beginning makes a bad ending.
A bad beginning makes a bad ending.
If small holes aren't fixed, then big holes will bring hardship.
If small holes aren’t fixed, then big holes will bring hardship.
Timely return of a loan makes it easier to borrow a second time.
Timely return of a loan makes it easier to borrow a second time.
A bird in the hand is worth than two in the bush.
A bird in the hand is worth than two in the bush.

7 Chinese Proverbs on Books and Reading

A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood.
A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood.
A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
A book holds a house of gold.
A book holds a house of gold.
You can’t tell a book by looking at its cover.
You can’t tell a book by looking at its cover.
A single conversation with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books.
A single conversation with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books.
After three days without reading, talk becomes flavorless.
After three days without reading, talk becomes flavorless.
It's better to be without a book than to believe a book entirely.
It’s better to be without a book than to believe a book entirely.

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Best Chinese Proverbs and Sayings (WISDOM) - Gracious Quotes