諺語 · a single proverb
驕傲使人落後，虛心使人進步
Simplified: 骄傲使人落后，虚心使人进步
What does 驕傲使人落後，虛心使人進步 (jiāo ào shǐ rén luò hòu xū xīn shǐ rén jìn bù) mean?
驕傲使人落後，虛心使人進步 (jiāo ào shǐ rén luò hòu xū xīn shǐ rén jìn bù) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "pride makes person fall behind, humble heart makes person progress." In use it means: Pride leads to falling behind; humility leads to advancement. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rooster.
Literally: "pride makes person fall behind, humble heart makes person progress."
The reading
The proud vessel is already full and so cannot receive. The empty cup can take in everything offered. What looks like disadvantage in the humble person-the openness, the willingness to be taught-is exactly the capacity that fills them while the proud stand still. The cup that holds more grows more.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Mao Zedong 毛澤東 speech usage; roots in classical humility tradition
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Humility & Self-Mastery, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 驕傲使人落後，虛心使人進步 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 驕傲使人落後，虛心使人進步 (jiāo ào shǐ rén luò hòu xū xīn shǐ rén jìn bù) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Mao Zedong 毛澤東 speech usage; roots in classical humility tradition. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 驕傲使人落後，虛心使人進步?
In Mandarin it is jiāo ào shǐ rén luò hòu xū xīn shǐ rén jìn bù. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 驕傲使人落後，虛心使人進步 aloud in Mandarin.