A gem cannot be polished without friction
Meaning: Excellence and greatness are only achieved through struggle and hardship.
Origin: Usually quoted in full as "A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials," and variously labeled a Chinese proverb, a saying of Confucius, or a line of Seneca's. None of these attributions comes with a source, so the saying's origin is unknown.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, and Japanese
- French: Une gemme ne peut être polie sans frottement (literally: A gem cannot be polished without friction)
- Spanish: Una joya no puede ser pulida sin fricción (literally: A gem cannot be polished without friction)
- Japanese: 玉磨かざれば光なし (Tama migakazareba hikari nashi) (literally: A jewel not polished has no shine)
More proverbs about Challenge
- The darkest hour is just before the dawn — Situations often worsen right before they improve dramatically.
- It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness — Taking constructive action is more effective than complaining about a problem.
- When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion — Collective effort by many can overcome even the most powerful opposition.
- It is not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog — Determination and spirit matter far more than physical size or advantage.
- The obstacle is the path — Difficulties are not barriers to our goals but the very means by which we achieve them.
- After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb — Every achievement reveals further challenges ahead; success is a continuous journey.