Best-Loved Chinese Proverbs

by Laura Lau, Kenneth Lau, Theodora Lau

Book Overview

"By filling one's head instead of one's pocket, one cannot be robbed."The appeal of Chinese proverbs is profound and universal. With brevity, clarity, and simplicity, these carefully chosen words help... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1435146174
• ISBN13: 9781435146174
• Release Date: January 2013
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great gift idea

I received this from someone very dear to me as "card" for Chinese New Year! I thought that was such a great idea as cards these days are quite expensive anyway so why not just spend that extra few dollars and give this instead. Its more worthwhile. I have just finished reading it and loved it. Some very inspirational sayings and some very funny :) Thoroughly enjoyed it.

"Do not be a frog sitting at the bottom of a well."

I've always enjoyed books of sayings,proverbs,quotations and such.I also often use them in discussions.Let's face it these short trueisms have been handed down from one generation to the next foe ages. When I found this little book,I really felt, since the Chinese culture is so remote and different;I thought their Proverbs would be as well. I guess that wisdom really knows no borders. One thing you will see in this book is that the same thought is amply put into different words. We have many proverbs on the benefits of reading; I like this Chinese way of putting it; "One who does not like to read is equal to one who cannot read." And on sincerity; "The longer the explanation the bigger the lie." And on strategy; "Don't lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot." And on success; "Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up." Or as we would say'"If at first you don't succeed,try,try,again." And this one straight to the point; "Do not judge a person until the lid of his coffin is closed. With many of the proverbs,a brief explanation of its meaning is given where the author thinks it is necessary. Although it doesn't take long to skip through this little book;It's enjoyment can be extended by trying to come up with a Western Proverb that conveys the same thouhht in different words.

Best-Loved Chinese Proverbs

The most romantic that ever happened to me was motivated by this book and one of its proverbs. My boyfriend wanted to find something culturally significant (I'm Chinese)to use to propose to me. Apparently, he searched far and wide for a book like this and it was difficult to find, but when he found Theodora Lau's "Best-Loved Chinese Proverbs" it all fell into place. He also made quite the impression on my traditional Chinese family with such lovely words.

Highly recommended!!

This is an excellent book. It has great proverbs that eloquently state things I am thinking. I often refer to it when I can't articulate a thought or experience I have had, and when I'd like to quote the book. It is a thought-provoking book in many ways. It is also well-organized, so when I'm looking for something in particular, I know exactly where to find it!

This book is a must have

I teach history at the university level and found this book quite by accident under the "Eastern thought" section of the bookstore. It was a surprise find and the simply worded proverbs in it are profound and insightful. Highly recommended if you want a good glimpse of Chinese Philosophy.