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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

Meaning: Great accomplishments start with small beginnings.

Origin: Chinese proverb from Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, 6th century BC.

Translations

  • 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)

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.

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