This classic saying teaches that enduring extreme hardship and suffering is the necessary path to success and superiority. It's a motivational call to embrace struggle, because the greater the hardship you overcome, the higher you will rise above others.
This is one of the most famous Chinese sayings about hard work. It reflects a deeply ingrained cultural belief that success is earned through suffering, and that those who achieve great things have paid their dues. It's often quoted to students, athletes, and entrepreneurs.
This saying legitimizes suffering and gives it meaning. It signals that the speaker values perseverance and sees hardship as a rite of passage. It also creates a sense of hierarchy — '人上人' (person above others) — which appeals to the competitive drive in Chinese culture.
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