A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

Meaning: Great accomplishments start with small beginnings.

Who said it? Laozi, Tao Te Ching (traditionally attributed)

Origin: From chapter 64 of the Tao Te Ching, traditionally attributed to Laozi, whose dates are uncertain: a journey of a thousand li begins beneath one's feet. The li is a Chinese unit of distance, and the point is that every great undertaking starts with a first, small action.

Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Chinese, and 2 more languages

French: Un voyage de mille lieues commence par un pas (literally: A journey of a thousand leagues begins with a step)
Spanish: Un viaje de mil millas comienza con un solo paso (literally: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step)
Japanese: 千里の道も一歩から (Senri no michi mo ippo kara) (literally: A thousand-mile journey begins with one step)
German: Auch der längste Weg beginnt mit dem ersten Schritt (literally: Even the longest road begins with the first step)
Chinese: 千里之行，始于足下 (Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià) (literally: A thousand-mile journey starts beneath your feet)
Korean: 천 리 길도 한 걸음부터 (Cheon ri gildo han georeumbuteo) (literally: Even a thousand-ri road starts with one step)
Arabic: رحلة الألف ميل تبدأ بخطوة (Riḥlat al-alf mīl tabdaʾ bi-khaṭwa) (literally: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step)