A gem cannot be polished without friction

Meaning: Excellence and greatness are only achieved through struggle and hardship.

Origin: Chinese proverb rooted in Confucian philosophy on self-improvement.

Translations

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)

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.

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