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Best Loved Chinese Proverbs
From the author of the bestselling Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes (125,000 copies sold) comes a charming gift book of simple wisdom accompanied by Chinese calligraphy by Kenneth Lau.
Paperback
First published November 8, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 25, 2025
A classic worth reading in the tumultuous times we live in today
November 28, 2022
The translator, Theodora, behind by saying “to truly know a people, know their proverbs.”
While there are some obviously culturally specific proverbs (of the thirty-six stratagem, ‘running away’ is the best one”), it is enjoyable to discover universal wisdom that pairs well with the proverbs of other cultures, with commonalities on traits of the wise (they are slow to speak, diligent in learning, etc) and the foolish (boisterous, willfully ignorant, corrupt, etc).
For instance, see how much these ones have to speak to our current polarized political climate:
“An idle story can quickly become fact in the mouths of hundreds.”
“To gather an audience, start a fight.”
“If the top beam is crooked all the rest will not be straight.”
A few additional ones that struck me personally:
“Those who spend all their time talking will have no time to think.”
“Think before you speak but do not speak all that you think.”
“First attain skill; creativity comes later.”
“Adversity a mirror that reveals one’s true self.”
“Defeat is never a bitter brew until one agrees to swallow it.”
While there are some obviously culturally specific proverbs (of the thirty-six stratagem, ‘running away’ is the best one”), it is enjoyable to discover universal wisdom that pairs well with the proverbs of other cultures, with commonalities on traits of the wise (they are slow to speak, diligent in learning, etc) and the foolish (boisterous, willfully ignorant, corrupt, etc).
For instance, see how much these ones have to speak to our current polarized political climate:
“An idle story can quickly become fact in the mouths of hundreds.”
“To gather an audience, start a fight.”
“If the top beam is crooked all the rest will not be straight.”
A few additional ones that struck me personally:
“Those who spend all their time talking will have no time to think.”
“Think before you speak but do not speak all that you think.”
“First attain skill; creativity comes later.”
“Adversity a mirror that reveals one’s true self.”
“Defeat is never a bitter brew until one agrees to swallow it.”
February 18, 2024
Good advice in concise form.
February 24, 2024
Average quality content.
January 11, 2016
Excellent!!! :D Exactly what I was looking for! :) It's not quite as extensive or as comprehensive of other cultures as the Dragon's Almanac is but if you're looking for good proverbs in Chinese this is a wonderful text :)
November 9, 2009
A nice collection of quotes.
November 6, 2018
Nice little collection, divided into sections. But a very quick read and by no means a complete collection.
January 22, 2013
Great when looking for quotes to use in speeches
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews