20 Ancient Proverbs: A Good Son Doesn't Split the Family Property, A Good Woman Doesn't Wear Wedding Clothes

A good son doesn't split the family property, a good woman doesn't wear wedding clothes.

People should learn to be self-sufficient and independent. Don't always rely on others, and it's better to rely on yourself than to rely on anyone.

2. Don't do middleman work or guarantee others, and you'll never have trouble.

Not being a middleman means not giving others a guarantee, and you’ll never have trouble. Being a middleman means being friends with both sides, and if things don’t go wrong, it’s good. If things do go wrong, you won’t have friends left.

3. Don't hit people; don't snatch bowls.

When dealing with people, don’t be extreme; leave room for others and for yourself. Leave room for others, and that’s also room for yourself.

4. A fool runs headlong; a wise man quietly observes.

Harmful intentions should be avoided, suspicious thoughts should be guarded against. Be vigilant of those who are silent and introspective, as they may be accumulating strength.

5. Family words are like a gentle breeze, strangers’ words are golden precepts.

Family members are our closest people, but they are also the ones we often ignore. Treat your family with respect, don't be impatient, and listen to what they say carefully.

6. Your own meat isn’t fragrant, other people’s dishes have flavor.

Don’t compare yourself to others; you may not be able to see the good things others have. What others have is the best, and you shouldn’t have this mindset.

7. People love the rich, dogs bite the poor.

Focus on what benefits you; otherwise, you’ll be exhausted and frustrated. Don’t associate with those who love wealth; be realistic, but don’t be overly grasping.

8. The poor don’t visit relatives, the rich don’t return to their hometown.

When you’re poor, don’t frequently visit relatives and friends, or people will look down on you, and you’ll feel bad yourself. When you’re rich, don’t return to your hometown to show off, because you’ll be giving away too much money.

Not only that, you’ve even given money away, and no one thanks you, because they think it’s something you should do, which reflects the problem of people's hearts in the past.

9. Chop firewood from the small head; ask for directions from old people.

When chopping wood, start with the small head to make it easier to chop. When asking for directions, ask older people; they have a wealth of experience, and you can learn from them and avoid losses.

10. The sky is high and the clouds are deep, the earth is silent and the mountains are vast.

The more you boast, the less you have. Quietly cultivate yourself, and people with true talent and learning won’t brag about themselves. Just like the sky and earth, they are everywhere without making a sound.

11. It’s difficult to open a good door, and it’s difficult to close a good door.

If you want to do good deeds, you’ll attract people seeking help, and it’s difficult to stop; if you want to stop doing good, it’s not easy, people will criticize you, and the society will be corrupted by false moralists. Therefore, people should first abide by rules and regulations, and then talk about morality.

12. One person doesn’t speak two faces.

Be principled; don’t say nice things to everyone and say bad things to others; don’t try to please everyone, or you’ll be in trouble.

13. If you love to show off in public, you’ll criticize others and use belittling others to elevate yourself.

This reflects a strong self-awareness and a tendency to center oneself; we should try to maintain a distance to avoid being taken advantage of.

14. When meeting a great person, be great; when meeting a small person, be prudent.

In dealing with people, speak concisely and clearly when conveying your requirements and questions; this will facilitate smooth communication between people.

15. Small people talk about virtue, wise people talk about it when they speak.

In a corrupt society, if everyone follows rules, it will eventually become a humane society; if a clean society has people talking about rules but not about morality, it will eventually degenerate into a society of false moralists. Therefore, people should first abide by rules and regulations, and then talk about morality.

16. Eat scallions and garlic without eating ginger.

Ginger and ‘jiang’ (a homophone) mean to avoid using someone’s psychological tactics to provoke others.

17. Wealth comes from fortune, small wealth comes from diligence.

A person’s ability to become wealthy and honored is predetermined by fate.

A person’s ability to live a good life depends on their own hard work and dedication; doing things well is enough.

18. I’d rather dismantle ten temples than destroy one family.

If a temple is destroyed, it can be rebuilt; gods will forgive people’s mistakes, but destroying a family marriage destroys three generations of happiness.

Parents are hurt, husband and wife break up, and children are affected; this mistake cannot be compensated for.

19. Eat someone else’s food and look at someone else’s face; serve someone else’s bowl and be supervised by someone else.

When relying on others economically, you must obey their constraints.

Young people rely on their parents economically but don’t listen to their advice, they shouldn’t do this.

20. Rice bowl couples, wine and food friends, gift relatives.

Couples are based on rice, oil, and salt; friends are based on eating and drinking; relatives are always connected by gifts and treats.

The closest relationships are the most real and sincere.

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