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A classical Chinese line for “Do not let criticism control you”

These matches come from a curated corpus of real Chinese poetry and philosophy. The source line is fixed; the English wording is provided to make its meaning accessible.

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The closest lines we found

6 source-verified results
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

且举世誉之而不加劝，举世非之而不加沮。

Qiě jǔ shì yù zhī ér bù jiā quàn, jǔ shì fēi zhī ér bù jiā jǔ.

Close English reading

Praised by the whole world, he is not further encouraged; condemned by the whole world, he is not discouraged.

Plain meaningLet neither praise nor criticism control who you are.

Source
Zhuangzi· Warring States period · Free and Easy Wandering
Zhuangzi
Why it fitsIt describes an inner standard strong enough to survive both approval and rejection.
Original context and translation note
且举世誉之而不加劝，举世非之而不加沮。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

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✓ Verified sourceBilingual

燕雀安知鸿鹄之志哉！

Yàn què ān zhī hóng hú zhī zhì zāi!

Close English reading

How could sparrows and swallows know the ambition of a great swan?

Plain meaningPeople with small horizons may not understand a larger dream.

Source
Sima Qian· Western Han dynasty · The House of Chen She
Records of the Grand Historian
Why it fitsThe contrast between small birds and the great swan gives defiant language to misunderstood ambition.
Original context and translation note
燕雀安知鸿鹄之志哉！

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

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✓ Verified sourceBilingual

老当益壮，宁移白首之心；穷且益坚，不坠青云之志。

Lǎo dāng yì zhuàng, nǐng yí bái shǒu zhī xīn; qióng qiě yì jiān, bù zhuì qīng yún zhī zhì.

Close English reading

In old age one should grow still stronger—how could a white-haired heart be changed? In hardship one should grow still firmer and never let high aspiration fall.

Plain meaningNeither age nor hardship should make you abandon a worthy ambition.

Source
Wang Bo· Tang dynasty · Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng
Guwen Guanzhi: Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng
Why it fitsThe paired clauses join aging and adversity as two pressures that can strengthen rather than erase resolve.
Original context and translation note
老当益壮，宁移白首之心；穷且益坚，不坠青云之志。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

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✓ Verified sourceBilingual

不以物喜，不以己悲。

Bù yǐ wù xǐ, bù yǐ jǐ bēi.

Close English reading

Do not rejoice because of external things, nor grieve because of personal loss.

Plain meaningKeep your balance through success and setback.

Source
Fan Zhongyan· Northern Song dynasty · Memorial to Yueyang Tower
Collected Works of Fan Zhongyan
Why it fitsIt describes emotional steadiness that is not controlled by possessions, status, or personal fortune.
Original context and translation note
予尝求古仁人之心，或异二者之为。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

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法不阿贵，绳不挠曲。

Fǎ bù ē guì, shéng bù náo qū.

Close English reading

Law does not bend toward the powerful; the marking line does not curve around what is crooked.

Plain meaningRules should apply equally, even to the powerful.

Source
Han Fei· Warring States period · You Du (Having Standards)
Han Feizi
Why it fitsThe measuring line becomes an image of a standard that refuses to bend for status.
Original context and translation note
法不阿贵，绳不挠曲。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

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富与贵，是人之所欲也；不以其道得之，不处也。

Fù yǔ guì, shì rén zhī suǒ yù yě; bù yǐ qí dào dé zhī, bù chǔ yě.

Close English reading

Wealth and honor are what people desire; if they cannot be obtained by the right way, do not accept them.

Plain meaningSuccess is not worth having if it requires the wrong means.

Source
Confucius· Pre-Qin China · Analects 4: Li Ren
The Analects
Why it fitsIt recognizes the desire for success while refusing dishonest methods.
Original context and translation note
子曰：富与贵，是人之所欲也；不以其道得之，不处也。贫与贱，是人之所恶也；不以其道得之，不去也。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

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Translation note: The English readings are original explanatory translations for this product. They are designed for clarity and source verification, not presented as definitive literary translations.

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Related themes

CourageClassical Chinese sayings about integrity under wealth, hardship, pressure, praise, and criticism.Inner peaceClassical Chinese lines about calm, simplicity, freedom from noise, and a mind not controlled by praise or blame.LifeVerified classical Chinese lines about enjoying the present, weathering change, and choosing what deserves your attention.Letting goVerified lines from Chinese classics about release, acceptance, endings, and no longer being ruled by the past.

Original Chinese line, pinyin, a readable English explanation, and a traceable source—without inventing an ancient quotation.

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A Classical Chinese Line for “Do not let criticism control you” | Gu Ren Said