valuable contributions； throw a sprat to catch a whale
破釜沉舟cut off all means of retreat；burn one’s own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end
搶得先機(jī)take the preemptive opportunities
巧婦難為無(wú)米之炊If you have no hand you can’t make a fist. One can’t make bricks without straw.
千里之行始于足下a thousand-li journey begins with the first step——the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
前事不忘，后事之師Past experience， if not forgotten， is a guide for the future.
前人栽樹(shù)，后人乘涼One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests.
One sows and another reaps.
前怕狼，后怕虎fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind/ hesitate in doing something
強(qiáng)龍難壓地頭蛇Even a dragon （from the outside） finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt - Powerful outsiders can hardly 國(guó)泰民安The country flourishes and people live in peace
過(guò)猶不及going too far is as bad as not going far enough； beyond is as wrong as falling short； too much is as bad as too little
功夫不負(fù)有心人Everything comes to him who waits.
好了傷疤忘了疼once on shore， one prays no more
好事不出門(mén)，惡事傳千里Good news never goes beyond the gate， while bad news spread far and wide.
和氣生財(cái)Harmony brings wealth
活到老，學(xué)到老One is never too old to learn.
既往不咎let bygones be bygones
金無(wú)足赤，人無(wú)完人Gold can’t be pure and man can’t be perfect.
金玉滿堂Treasures fill the home
腳踏實(shí)地be down-to-earth
腳踩兩只船sit on the fence
君子之交淡如水the friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal； a hedge between keeps friendship green
老生常談，陳詞濫調(diào)cut and dried， cliché
破釜沉舟cut off all means of retreat；burn one’s own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end
搶得先機(jī)take the preemptive opportunities
巧婦難為無(wú)米之炊If you have no hand you can’t make a fist. One can’t make bricks without straw.
千里之行始于足下a thousand-li journey begins with the first step——the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
前事不忘，后事之師Past experience， if not forgotten， is a guide for the future.
前人栽樹(shù)，后人乘涼One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests.
One sows and another reaps.
前怕狼，后怕虎fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind/ hesitate in doing something
強(qiáng)龍難壓地頭蛇Even a dragon （from the outside） finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt - Powerful outsiders can hardly 國(guó)泰民安The country flourishes and people live in peace
過(guò)猶不及going too far is as bad as not going far enough； beyond is as wrong as falling short； too much is as bad as too little
功夫不負(fù)有心人Everything comes to him who waits.
好了傷疤忘了疼once on shore， one prays no more
好事不出門(mén)，惡事傳千里Good news never goes beyond the gate， while bad news spread far and wide.
和氣生財(cái)Harmony brings wealth
活到老，學(xué)到老One is never too old to learn.
既往不咎let bygones be bygones
金無(wú)足赤，人無(wú)完人Gold can’t be pure and man can’t be perfect.
金玉滿堂Treasures fill the home
腳踏實(shí)地be down-to-earth
腳踩兩只船sit on the fence
君子之交淡如水the friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal； a hedge between keeps friendship green
老生常談，陳詞濫調(diào)cut and dried， cliché