諺語 · a single proverb
為善最樂
Simplified: 为善最乐
What does 為善最樂 (wéi shàn zuì lè) mean?
為善最樂 (wéi shàn zuì lè) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "doing good is greatest joy." In use it means: The greatest happiness comes from doing good; virtue brings true joy. 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 Pig.
Literally: "doing good is greatest joy."
The reading
The delight that comes from having done something genuinely good is qualitatively different from other pleasures. It does not fade by morning, it does not require repetition to feel valid, and it does not depend on anyone watching. This is the joy that keeps, and it is available in any moment to anyone.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Dong Han Shu 東漢書·東平王蒼傳 (Dōng Píng Wáng Cāng biography)
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 Harmony, Virtue & Balance, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 為善最樂 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 為善最樂 (wéi shàn zuì lè) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Dong Han Shu 東漢書·東平王蒼傳 (Dōng Píng Wáng Cāng biography). 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 為善最樂?
In Mandarin it is wéi shàn zuì lè. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 為善最樂 aloud in Mandarin.