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English intent · Chinese classic

A classical Chinese line for “Stay firm under pressure”

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

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富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈。

Fù guì bù néng yín, pín jiàn bù néng yí, wēi wǔ bù néng qū.

Close English reading

Wealth and honor cannot corrupt him, poverty and low status cannot move him, and force cannot make him bend.

Plain meaningHold your principles through temptation, hardship, and pressure.

Source

Mencius· Warring States period · Mencius: Teng Wen Gong II

Mencius

Why it fitsIt defines integrity by the pressures it can withstand.

Original context and translation note

富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈。

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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千磨万击还坚劲，任尔东西南北风。

Qiān mó wàn jī hái jiān jìng, rèn ěr dōng xī nán běi fēng.

Close English reading

Ground a thousand times and struck ten thousand, still it stands firm, whatever wind blows from any direction.

Plain meaningStay strong no matter how many setbacks come or where the pressure comes from.

Source

Zheng Xie· Qing dynasty · Bamboo in the Rock

Collected Works of Zheng Xie

Why it fitsThe bamboo becomes a vivid image of resilience under repeated pressure.

Original context and translation note

咬定青山不放松，立根原在破岩中。

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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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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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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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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先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐。

Xiān tiān xià zhī yōu ér yōu, hòu tiān xià zhī lè ér lè.

Close English reading

Be concerned before all under heaven are concerned, and enjoy happiness only after all under heaven enjoy it.

Plain meaningLeadership means carrying responsibility before taking reward.

Source

Fan Zhongyan· Northern Song dynasty · Memorial to Yueyang Tower

Guwen Guanzhi: Memorial to Yueyang Tower

Why it fitsIt defines public responsibility through sequence: concern first, enjoyment last.

Original context and translation note

先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐。

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.

Explore nearby meanings

The closest lines we found

富贵不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈。

千磨万击还坚劲，任尔东西南北风。

老当益壮，宁移白首之心；穷且益坚，不坠青云之志。

且举世誉之而不加劝，举世非之而不加沮。

燕雀安知鸿鹄之志哉！

先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐。

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