This is the flip side of the previous saying — it means that when you've reached your absolute limit, it's justified to stop tolerating and take action. It validates standing up for yourself after excessive forbearance.
While patience is valued, Chinese culture also recognizes that there are limits. This saying is often used to justify a breaking point, especially in situations of injustice or repeated mistreatment.
Chinese people use this saying to balance the virtue of patience with the need for self-respect. It signals that forbearance should not become self-destruction, and that there's a time to assert boundaries — which is also respected as a form of moral courage.
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