Roads and paths

By / 03-09-2017 / (Chinese Social Sciences Today)

 

路不行不到,事不为不成
Without leaving, you can never arrive; without action, you can accomplish nothing.
This proverb emphasizes that success belongs to those who take action instead of those who just engage in empty talk.

 


路上说话,草里有人
What is said on the road is heard in the grass.
The proverb means that what one says in private may be overheard.

 


路是人开的,树是人栽的
A path is cut by men, as a tree is planted by them.
The proverb is often used metaphorically to mean that human effort is the decisive factor.

 


路遥知马力,日久见人心
The endurance of a horse can be tested by a long road, and the heart of a person can be proved by a long time.
The proverb means that time will reveal a person’s integrity and sincerity.

 


路到险处难回避,事到头来不自由
You can’t turn back when you run into danger on the road; you can’t do as you please when a crisis comes.
The proverb means that one cannot back out and lose control of oneself when encountering a crisis.