Chinese civilization is one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures spanning over 5000 years. It is no surprise that ancient Chinese wisdom is still popular and relevant today. Chances are you have probably read a quote by Confucius or “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. Ancient Chinese literature is an oasis of wisdom, nowhere is this more evident than in Chinese proverbs and idioms.
Chinese proverbs (諺語 yànyŭ) and idioms (成語 chéngyŭ) offer us a glimpse into the Chinese way of thinking and how it impacts everyday life.

Dú wàn juǎn shū bùrú xíng wànlǐ lù. Reading ten thousand books is not as useful as traveling ten thousand miles. In Chinese society practical knowledge is very important. This is why learning by doing has become a common value for most Chinese enterprises and learning institutions. Having theoretical knowledge is good but applying it in the real world is even better. This proverb also invokes a sense of adventure in people, similar to an English quote that says: "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page"

hǎoshìduōmó 好事多磨
The road to happiness is strewn with set backs Loosely translated as everything worth having requires effort and hard work this proverb is one of my personal favorites. It emphasizes the need for perseverance in everything we do. Setbacks and hardships are part of the journey of life but instead of making us give up they should serve as motivation for us to achieve our dreams. “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” Albert Einstein

小洞不补，大洞吃苦
A small hole not mended in time will become a big hole much more difficult to mend. xiǎo dòng bù bǔ, dà dòng chī kǔ This proverb serves as an instruction on how we can develop good and positive habits. Don’t let your bad deeds go unchecked they will become habits and before you know it, they will be engrained in your character. Don’t wait for tomorrow to develop good habits start now. There is a similar English adage that says
“ A stitch in time saves 9”