諺語 · a single proverb
善騎者人恆騎之
Simplified: 善骑者人恒骑之
What does 善騎者人恆騎之 (shàn qí zhě rén héng qí zhī) mean?
善騎者人恆騎之 (shàn qí zhě rén héng qí zhī) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "a good rider is always being ridden by others." In use it means: Expertise can become exploitation; the capable person is constantly called upon until they are worn down. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Horse.
Literally: "a good rider is always being ridden by others."
The reading
The best horse is ridden the hardest. The most capable person gets the most requests. At some point, competence becomes a liability because it attracts demand faster than it can be supplied. The skilled person must learn to say no with the same skill they apply to saying yes, or the yes will consume them.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Huainanzi 淮南子; reflected in various classical texts
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 Adversity & Resilience, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Horse, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 善騎者人恆騎之 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 善騎者人恆騎之 (shàn qí zhě rén héng qí zhī) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Huainanzi 淮南子; reflected in various classical texts. 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 善騎者人恆騎之?
In Mandarin it is shàn qí zhě rén héng qí zhī. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 善騎者人恆騎之 aloud in Mandarin.