This is an extended version of the previous saying. The first half advises avoiding immediate losses, and the second half adds that a true hero does not take advantage of someone who has come back to do business or reconcile. It combines strategic retreat with magnanimity.
This version is less common and more colloquial, often used in business or negotiation contexts. The 'returning customer' metaphor implies that showing mercy and fairness to those who return builds long-term trust and reputation.
This saying reinforces the ideal of the 'hero' as someone who is both strategically smart and morally generous. It signals that true strength lies not in aggression but in the ability to forgive and build lasting relationships.
Draw random cards from hundreds of real Chinese folk sayings and proverbs. Each flip reveals what Chinese people actually mean.
🎴 Play Chinese Wisdom Cards