Years ago, I was privileged to lead a team of students from Dallas Baptist University in teaching an English seminar in Beijing, China. One day I asked the seminar’s Chinese participants to share some of their country’s proverbs, and these are the delightful words of wisdom that they shared.

Among the blind, the one-eyed man can be king.

Don’t laugh at people who fled 100 steps away in a war if you just fled 50 steps.

Knowledge can change one’s life.

t’s no use blowing on hot soup in a large vat in order to cool it. It would be better to take away the firewood under the soup. (My guess: Deal with the root of the problem.)                         

Among the three, there must be one who can be my teacher.

If three people discuss something together, it is as a wise man.

Modesty will promote you.

The dog you have raised may bite you.

If the mountain exists, you don’t have to worry about the lack of firewood. (The participant explained this to mean that while there is life, there is hope.)

Beat iron while it’s hot.                                                     

When you revise, you gain a new thing.

He who has never visited the Great Wall is not a true man.

You carried a stone and dropped it on your own foot.

Smelly fish and smelly shrimp are found together.

It takes 10 years for a young tree to grow and 100 years to educate a generation.

Photo of pot over fire by Tikkho Maciel on Unsplash

Photo of blacksmith by Jonathan Bean on Unsplash