A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor

Meaning: Hardship and challenges are what build true expertise and resilience.

Origin: English proverb, widely attributed to Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 20th century.

Translations

French: Une mer calme n'a jamais fait un bon marin (literally: A calm sea never made a good sailor)
Spanish: Un mar en calma nunca hizo un marinero experto (literally: A calm sea never made an expert sailor)
Japanese: 穏やかな海では優れた船乗りは育たない (Odayaka na umi de wa sugureta funanori wa sodatanai) (literally: A skilled sailor is not raised in a calm sea)

Dripping water hollows out stone — Persistent small efforts accomplish what force alone cannot.
The ox is slow, but the earth is patient — Steady, unhurried work in harmony with natural rhythms eventually yields abundance.
The cat that always cries catches no mice — Complaining and making noise accomplishes nothing; quiet, focused effort gets results.
The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones — Great accomplishments are only possible through gradual, persistent small efforts.
It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop — Progress at any pace is still progress; what matters is persisting, not speed.
Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance — Long-term persistence is more powerful than raw ability or brute force.

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