A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
Meaning: Great accomplishments start with small beginnings.
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, and German
- 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)
More proverbs about Perseverance
- If at first you don't succeed, try, try again — Persistence is essential to success.
- Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today — Avoid procrastination.
- Blood, sweat, and tears — Great achievement requires immense effort and sacrifice.
- The first step is the hardest — Starting something new requires the most courage.
- Patience is a virtue — The ability to wait calmly is a valuable quality.
- A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor — Hardship and challenges are what build true expertise and resilience.
From our idioms
- Tourner autour du pot — To beat around the bush.
- Avoir la tête dans les nuages — To be a daydreamer; out of touch with reality.
- Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu'un — To talk behind someone's back.