Ăn cỗ đi trước, lội nước đi sau
“First in line for the feast, last to wade through the water.”
A wry rebuke of opportunists who claim benefits first but avoid hardship and effort.
— Traditional Vietnam Wisdom, Vietnam
Source: Traditional Vietnamese proverb, public-domain oral tradition
More Proverbs from Vietnam
When eating the fruit, remember who planted the tree.
Always be grateful to those whose earlier labor made your present benefit possible.
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When drinking water, remember its source.
Never forget the origins of your good fortune or the people who came before you.
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With enough effort grinding iron, one day it becomes a needle.
Patient, persistent effort will eventually accomplish even the hardest task.
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The whole leaf wraps the torn leaf.
Those who are well-off should protect and help those who are suffering.
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One tree makes no hill; three trees together make a high mountain.
Unity and collective effort achieve what no individual can do alone.
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Near ink you turn black; near the lamp you turn bright.
The company you keep shapes your character for better or worse.
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