Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì sáng
“Near ink you turn black; near the lamp you turn bright.”
The company you keep shapes your character for better or worse.
— 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.
Traditional Vietnam Wisdom
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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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Travel a day's road and learn a basketful of wisdom.
Experience and travel teach far more than staying in one place.
Traditional Vietnam Wisdom
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