Even the tallest tower began with a single brick
Meaning: Every great achievement starts with one humble first step.
Origin: Adapted from chapter 64 of the Tao Te Ching, the same chapter as "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step": a tower nine stories high rises from a heap of earth. The brick in this version is a modern touch.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Même la plus haute tour a commencé par une seule brique (literally: Even the tallest tower started with a single brick)
- Spanish: Incluso la torre más alta comenzó con un solo ladrillo (literally: Even the tallest tower began with a single brick)
- Japanese: 最も高い塔も一つのレンガから始まった (Mottomo takai tō mo hitotsu no renga kara hajimatta) (literally: Even the tallest tower started from a single brick)
- German: Auch der längste Weg beginnt mit dem ersten Schritt (literally: Even the longest road begins with the first step)
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