Proverbs & World Wisdom: Chinese Proverbs Quotes

Explore a curated collection of Chinese proverbs that distill centuries of observation into brief, memorable lines. These sayings highlight balance, perseverance, humility, and the rewards of learning. Use them for reflection, teaching, or everyday encouragement. From the wisdom of patience to the value of taking the first step, each proverb invites calm insight and practical action. Discover themes of family, diligence, harmony with nature, and clear judgment across ages.

Similar topics:African Proverbs Japanese Proverbs Latin Phrases Native American Sayings Norse & Viking Sayings

"Never give a sword to a man who can't dance"

Confucius, Philosopher

"In waking a tiger, use a long stick"

Mao Tse-Tung, Leader

Mao Tse-Tung

"If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people"

Confucius, Philosopher

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading"

Lao Tzu, Author

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it"

Confucius, Philosopher

"The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere"

Xun Kuang, Philosopher

Xun Kuang

"Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without"

Confucius, Philosopher

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step"

Lao Tzu, Author

"In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of"

Confucius, Philosopher

"The Chinese culture belongs not only to the Chinese but also to the whole world"

Jinato Hu

"He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted"

Lao Tzu, Author

"Ability will never catch up with the demand for it"

Confucius, Philosopher

"Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors"

Confucius, Philosopher

"It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice"

Deng Xiaoping, Leader

Deng Xiaoping

"The fish trap exists because of the fish. Once you've gotten the fish, you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit. Once you've gotten the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words exist because of meaning. Once you've gotten the meaning, you can forget the words"

Zhuang Zi, Philosopher

"The higher the sun ariseth, the less shadow doth he cast; even so the greater is the goodness, the less doth it covet praise; yet cannot avoid its rewards in honours"

Lao Tzu, Author

"In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it"

Lao Tzu, Author

"Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy"

Lao Tzu, Author

"All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small"

Lao Tzu, Author

"To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness"

Confucius, Philosopher

"To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short"

Confucius, Philosopher

"Study the past, if you would divine the future"

Confucius, Philosopher

"Swollen in head, weak in legs, sharp in tongue but empty in belly"

Mao Tse-Tung, Leader

Mao Tse-Tung

"If the blood humor is too strong and robust, calm it with balance and harmony"

Xun Kuang, Philosopher

Xun Kuang

"Though bitter, good medicine cures illness. Though it may hurt, loyal criticism will have beneficial effects"

Sima Qian, Historian

"The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world"

Lao Tzu, Author

"Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it"

Lao Tzu, Author

"Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows"

Lao Tzu, Author

"Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires"

Lao Tzu, Author

"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step"

Lao Tzu, Author

"If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?"

Confucius, Philosopher

"If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself"

Confucius, Philosopher

"He who attends to his greater self becomes a great man, and he who attends to his smaller self becomes a small man"

Mencius, Philosopher

Mencius

"Sacrifices are concerned with the feelings of devotion and longing"

Xun Kuang, Philosopher

Xun Kuang

"A person is born with a liking for profit"

Xun Kuang, Philosopher

Xun Kuang

"What is at a peak is certain to decline. He who shows his hand will surely be defeated. He who can prevail in battle by taking advantage of his enemy's doubts is invincible"

Cao Cao, Statesman

Cao Cao

"It takes two hands to clap"

Jiang Zemin, Leader

"People in their handlings of affairs often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure"

Lao Tzu, Author

"If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence"

Lao Tzu, Author

"Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself"

Lao Tzu, Author

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