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A Journey of a Thousand Li Begins with the First Step

Any major undertaking must start small from the basics. The expression comes from Laozi. Zuxia (足下) means the place where one is standing. Laozi used the metaphors of a giant tree, a high platform, a long journey to represent two different ideas. （1）Proper preventive measures must be taken before problems or troubles occur lest things become worse; （2）All undertakings must start from the very beginning, because success or failure often depends on a good start; an extension of this is that reaching distant ideals and aspirations depends on many practical steps along the way to attain the seemingly impossible goal.

CITATION

The giant tree that needs several people to encircle grew from a tiny sapling; the platform nine stories high was built from piling many baskets of earth; and the journey of a thousand li begins with the first step. (Laozi)

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CORRELATION

All Things Have a Beginning, but Few Can Reach the End.
All undertakings have a beginning, but few people are able to see things through to the end. Mi (靡) means “nothing, none,” and chu (初) means “beginning.” Xian (鲜) means “few,” and ke (克)means “be able, can.” The saying comes from The Book of Songs, and was a criticism of the degenerate and immoral King Li of Zhou whose constantly changing decrees brought misery to his people. The story has both practical and philosophical implications. Starting off with a flourish is not difficult, whether in personal behavior, doing business, being an official or governing a country, it’s persevering to the end that is hardest. This is an admonition to us to not keep changing our minds, to avoid making bold early promises and then failing to live up to them. We must not give up in the middle, but should persevere so that things not only begin well but also end well.

KEY CONCEPTS

A Journey of a Thousand Li Begins with the First Step

CORRELATION

All Things Have a Beginning, but Few Can Reach the End.

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