Chinese Proverbs (U to Z)
Unplowed fields make hollow bellies; unread books make hollow minds. Use attack as the tactic of defense. Use power to curb power. Vicious as a tigeress can be, she never eats her own cubs. Vicious as a tigress can be, she never eats her own cubs. Victory has hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan. Virtue becomes a wife; beauty becomes a concubine. Virtue is not left to stand alone. Virtue never dwells alone, it always has neighbors. Virtue practiced to be seen is not real virtue; vice which fears to be seen is real vice. Virtue: climbing a hill; vice: running down. Virtuous for ten years is still not enough; evil for one day is too much already. Wait long, strike fast. Waiting for a rabbit to hit upon a tree and be killed in order to catch it. Want a thing long enough, and you don’t. War doesn’t determine who is right, war determines who is left. Water and words are easy to pour but impossible to recover. Water that has reached its level does not flow. We all like lamb; each has a different way of cooking it. We are not so much concerned if you are slow as when you come to a halt. We are not so much concerned if you are slow as when you come to a halt. We can study until old age and still not finish. We forget even incense in easy times; come hard times, we embrace the Buddha’s feet. Wealth is but dung, useful only when spread. Weaving a net is better than praying for fish at the edge of the water. Wedlock is a padlock. What is whispered in your ear is often heard a hundred miles off. What you cannot avoid, welcome. When a large vessel has opened a way it is easy for a small one to follow. When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them. When the cat is gone, the mice come out to stretch. When the mantis hunts the locust, he forgets the shrike that’s hunting him. When the tiger comes down from the mountain to the plains, it is bullied by the dogs When the tiger comes down from the mountain to the plains, it is bullied by the dogs. When the tree dies, the grass underneath withers. When the tree falls, the shadow flies. When the tree waves, wind is stirring. When you are poor, neighbors close by will not come; once you become rich, you’ll be surprised by visits from (alleged) relatives afar. When you are poor, neighbors close by will not come; once you become rich, you’ll be surprised by visits from (alleged) relatives afar. When you bow, bow low. When you fall into a pit, you either die or get out. When you go up to the mountain too often, you will eventually encounter the tiger. When you have musk, you will automatically have fragrance. When you have only two dollars left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a rose with the other. When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. When you say one thing, the clever person understands three. When you want to test the depths of a stream, don’t use both feet. When your horse in on the brink of a precipice, it is too late to pull the reins. Whenever the water rises, the boat will rise too. Where a chest lieth open, a righteous man may sin. Who is not satisfied with himself will grow; who is not sure of his own correctness will learn many things. Who rides a tiger cannot dismount. Who teaches me for a day is my father for a lifetime. Wife who put husband in doghouse soon find him in cathouse. With money one may command devils; without it, one cannot even summon a man. With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown. With true friends…even water drunk together is sweet enough. Without rice, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook. Yellow gold is plentiful compared to white-haired friends. You burn incense before the god, and then topple him. You buy land, you buy stones; you buy meat, you buy bones. You can hardly make a friend in a year, but you can easily offend one in an hour. You can’t catch a cub without going into the tiger’s den. You can’t clap with one hand only. You can’t expect both ends of a sugar cane are as sweet. You can’t expect both ends of a sugar cane to be as sweet. You can’t fare well, but you must cry roast meat. You can’t fill your belly painting pictures of bread. You cannot draw white cloth from a dying vat. You cannot fight a fire with water from far away. You cannot hook trout? Try digging clams. You cannot lose what you never had. You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back. You cannot push a cow’s head down unless it is drinking water by it’s own will. You must have crossed the river before you may tell the crocodile he has bad breath. You must scale the mountains if you would view the plain. You think you lost your horse? Who knows, he may bring a whole herd back to you someday. You think you’ve lost your horse? Who knows, he may bring a whole herd back to you someday. You want no one to know it? Then don’t do it. You want you horse to look good but you also want it not to have to eat grass. You won’t help shoots grow by pulling them up higher. you won’t worry about a knock on your door at night. Your fingers can’tbe of the same length. Your neigbour’s wife looks prettier than your own.
