The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second best time is now

Meaning: The right time to act is always now, no matter how late it feels.

Origin: Chinese proverb, widely attributed across East Asian cultures.

Translations

French: Le meilleur moment pour planter un arbre était il y a vingt ans ; le deuxième meilleur moment est maintenant (literally: The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second best moment is now)
Spanish: El mejor momento para plantar un árbol fue hace veinte años; el segundo mejor momento es ahora (literally: The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second best time is now)
Japanese: 木を植えるのに最善の時は二十年前だった。次善の時は今だ (Ki wo ueru no ni saizen no toki wa nijūnen mae datta. Jizen no toki wa ima da) (literally: The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now)

To know the road ahead, ask those coming back — Learn from people with experience before embarking on an unfamiliar path.
The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists — Flexibility and adaptability are greater strengths than rigid resistance.
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear — Learning happens when one is truly open and prepared to receive knowledge.
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask remains a fool forever — Admitting ignorance and seeking knowledge is always wiser than pretending to understand.
Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped — Focus on the root cause of a problem rather than just its consequence.
He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything — Good health is the foundation upon which all other good things in life are built.

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