Chinese Proverbs and Inspirational Quotes

Chinese Proverbs and Inspirational Quotes

A bamboo tree grows six inches in the first nineteen years and twenty feet in its twentieth year. The best time to plant a bamboo tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Time Management

Words are just words and without heart they have no meaning.
—Chinese Proverb

Who thinks an inch, but talks a yard, needs a kick in the foot.
—Chinese Proverb

Better a live beggar than a dead king.
—Chinese Proverb

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. But the second best time is today.
—Chinese Proverb

Man fools himself. He prays for a long life, and he fears an old age.
—Chinese Proverb

If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come.
—Chinese Proverb

Gold cannot be pure, and people cannot be perfect.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Perfection

Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Criticism, Friendship, Critics

If you want happiness for an hour—take a nap. If you want happiness for a day—go fishing. If you want happiness for a month—get married. If you want happiness for a year—inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime—help someone else.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Feelings, Happiness, Helpfulness, Kindness

Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Spring, Proverbs

When a finger points to the moon, the imbecile looks at the finger.
—Chinese Proverb

When you want to test the depths of a stream, don’t use both feet.
—Chinese Proverb

If you want your dinner, don’t offend the cook.
—Chinese Proverb

The tongue is like a sharp knife; it kills without drawing blood.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Speech

Don’t curse the darkness—light a candle.
—Chinese Proverb

A truly great man never puts away the simplicity of a child.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Simplicity, Proverbs

The conquerors are kings; the defeated are bandits.
—Chinese Proverb

A single conversation across the table with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Conversation, Book, Sin, Wisdom, Learning

Elephant tusks cannot grow out of a dog’s mouth.
—Chinese Proverb

The rich add riches to riches; the poor add years to years.
—Chinese Proverb

Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Carpe-diem

Towers are measured by their shadows, and men of merit by those who are envious of them.
—Chinese Proverb

It is always easier for one man to solve another man’s problem.
—Chinese Proverb

Enjoy yourself—it’s later than you think.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Carpe-diem

It is the beautiful bird that gets caged.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Beauty

Get the coffin ready and the man won’t die.
—Chinese Proverb

The roast duck can fly no more.
—Chinese Proverb

Flowers leave their fragrance on the hand that bestows them.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Proverbs, Gardening, Flowers

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Thought, Proverbs, Decisions, Wisdom

When one dog barks at a shadow, a hundred bark at the sound.
—Chinese Proverb

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Resilience, Proverbs, Patience, Progress, Growth

Talk doesn’t cook rice.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Action

One cannot manage too many affairs: like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Goals, Management, Aspirations, Time Management

Great doubts deep wisdom… small doubts little wisdom.
—Chinese Proverb

A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Smiling, Attitude

A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Perfection, Adversity, Difficulties

When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Proverbs, Memory, Gratitude

The journey is the reward.
—Chinese Proverb
Topics: Achievement, Success & Failure

Those who cause divisions, in order to injure other people; are in fact preparing pitfalls for their own ruin.
—Chinese Proverb