구슬이 서 말이라도 꿰어야 보배
“Even three mal of beads are only a treasure once they are strung together.”
Raw talent or resources are worthless until effort turns them into something finished and useful.
— Traditional South Korea Wisdom, South Korea
Source: Traditional Korean proverb (속담), public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from South Korea
After hardship comes joy.
Enduring difficulty patiently will eventually be rewarded with good fortune.
Traditional South Korea Wisdom
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Words that go out kindly are words that come back kindly.
If you speak politely to others, they will speak politely to you in return.
Traditional South Korea Wisdom
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Gather specks of dust and you make a great mountain.
Small amounts, saved or accumulated consistently, add up to something great.
Traditional South Korea Wisdom
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Even monkeys fall from trees.
Even an expert can make mistakes, so no one should be overconfident.
Traditional South Korea Wisdom
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Birds listen to daytime words and mice listen to nighttime words.
There are no true secrets, so be careful what you say because someone may always overhear.
Traditional South Korea Wisdom
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A frog in a well.
Someone with a narrow, limited view of the world who is unaware of the wider reality.
Traditional South Korea Wisdom
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