The words of China

China — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Real words from the people of China, each with a verified source. New quotes are added as each is fact-checked.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

千里之行，始于足下

Source: Laozi, Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing), ch. 64, circa 4th century BCE

“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.”

学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆

Source: Confucius, The Analects (Lunyu), Book II, circa 5th century BCE

“Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself.”

己所不欲，勿施于人

Source: Confucius, The Analects (Lunyu), Book XV, circa 5th century BCE

“When the old frontiersman lost his horse, who could know it was not a blessing?”

塞翁失马，焉知非福

Source: Huainanzi, compiled under Liu An, 2nd century BCE

“Know yourself and know your enemy, and in a hundred battles you will never be in peril.”

知己知彼，百战不殆

Source: Sun Tzu, The Art of War (Sunzi Bingfa), circa 5th century BCE

“Among any three people walking together, one can surely be my teacher.”

三人行，必有我师焉

Source: Confucius, The Analects (Lunyu), Book VII, circa 5th century BCE

“Reviewing the old, one learns the new.”

温故而知新

Source: Confucius, The Analects (Lunyu), Book II, circa 5th century BCE

“Dripping water wears through stone.”

水滴石穿

Source: Traditional Chinese proverb, derived from Han-era texts (Hanshu / Luo Dajing's Helin Yulu)

“Without entering the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger's cubs?”

不入虎穴，焉得虎子

Source: Book of the Later Han (Hou Han Shu), Biography of Ban Chao, 5th century CE

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

授人以鱼不如授人以渔

Source: Traditional Chinese proverb, oral tradition (concept echoed in Huainanzi and Laozi)