To know the road ahead, ask those coming back
Meaning: Learn from people with experience before embarking on an unfamiliar path.
Origin: Quoted in English as a Chinese proverb, sometimes with the claim that Confucius recorded it, but no Chinese source for this wording has been traced. Its advice — learn from people who have already made the journey — is found in many traditions.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, and Japanese
- French: Pour connaître la route qui s'ouvre, demandez à ceux qui reviennent (literally: To know the road ahead, ask those who are returning)
- Spanish: Para conocer el camino por delante, pregunta a quienes regresan (literally: To know the road ahead, ask those who return)
- Japanese: 前途を知るには、帰ってくる人に聞け (Zento wo shiru niwa, kaette kuru hito ni kike) (literally: To know what lies ahead, ask those who have returned)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- 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.
- Water finds its own level — People and things naturally settle into their proper place over time.
From our compliments & insults
- Du gehst mir auf den Keks — You're getting on my nerves.
- Schlaumeier — A smart aleck or know-it-all.
- 石頭 (Ishiatama) — A stubborn, inflexible person who won't budge.