This warns that relying on petty tricks or short-term cunning will ultimately backfire and cause significant harm. It promotes honesty and straightforwardness over manipulative behavior.
Chinese wisdom often contrasts 'xiao congming' (small cleverness) with 'da zhihui' (great wisdom). The former is seen as shallow and self-defeating, while the latter involves foresight and integrity.
This saying reinforces social trust by condemning dishonest shortcuts. It signals that in the long run, integrity is more profitable than trickery, aligning with both Confucian ethics and practical experience.
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