Han Fei Zi, "Rather than envying the fish in the river, it is better to go home and weave a net."
This proverb, deeply rooted in Eastern, particularly ancient Chinese, wisdom, is most famously found in Han Fei Zi (韓非子), a work by the Legalist philosopher Han Fei (韓非) from the Warring States period. The original text is "淵木而求魚，不如退而結網" (Yuān mù ér qiú yú, bù rú tuì ér jié wǎng), which literally translates to "Rather than climbing a tree to seek fish in a deep pool, it is better to retreat and weave a net." The meaning is broadly understood as the importance of practical preparation and action over simply desiring or admiring.
This proverb conveys a profound message about the significance of practical and concrete preparation and effort for achieving goals, moving beyond mere wishing or envy.
Content and Meaning of the Proverb
This proverb uses the contrast between "envying the fish" and "weaving a net" to impart wisdom on realistic problem-solving and goal attainment.
- Meaning of 'envying the fish in the river': This signifies a state of merely wishing for, desiring, or admiring a goal, success, opportunity, or the achievements of others that one does not currently possess or has not yet reached. It represents a passive attitude where one only imagines or verbally expresses desire, without concrete plans or actions to obtain it.
- Meaning of 'weaving a net': This symbolizes the specific and practical preparatory process, effort, and actionrequired to achieve a goal. Just as one must actively make and prepare a 'net' – a tool necessary for catching fish – it represents thorough planning, skill acquisition, resource gathering, and consistent execution to achieve success.
- The 'better' judgment: Simply envying is unproductive and wastes time and energy. Conversely, the act of weaving a net, while not immediately catching fish, ultimately creates the possibility of catching fish and opens the path to realizing one's desires.
In conclusion, this proverb delivers a powerful message: "Instead of just looking at an ideal goal or a good opportunity, it is wiser and the correct attitude to focus on concrete plans and actions to realize it." It asserts that practical preparation and effort, not sentimental desire, must precede the transformation of dreams into reality.
Examples Supporting the Proverb
The meaning of this proverb is clearly illustrated through various examples from our daily lives and historical achievements:
- Personal Career Development & Job Seeking:
- Vaguely thinking, "I want to get a good job" (envying the fish) yields no results. Instead, analyzing the required competencies for a desired role (determining the type of net), acquiring relevant certifications (weaving the net), and gaining internship experience (completing the net) ultimately leads to achieving the goal of employment.
- Business Startup & Success:
- Lingering on ideas like, "I wish I had a profitable business idea" (envying the fish) doesn't lead to starting a business. Conversely, conducting market research (understanding the river's characteristics), articulating a business model (designing the net), creating prototypes (making the net), and executing fundraising and marketing strategies (preparing to cast the net) ultimately allows one to catch the fish of business success.
- Health Improvement & Dieting:
- Simply wishing every day, "I want to be slim and healthy" (envying the fish) won't solve health issues. Instead, creating a meal plan (selecting net materials), consistently exercising (the act of weaving the net), and seeking expert advice (acquiring net-making skills) leads to achieving the ultimate goal of health.
- Athlete's Success:
- Wishing to be a great athlete (envying the fish) alone won't win an Olympic medal. It requires relentless daily training (weaving the net), strict diet management, mental conditioning, and consistent, practical effort to catch the "champion" fish.
- Scientific Research & Discovery:
- Dreaming of a world-changing discovery (envying the fish) won't yield new knowledge. It takes setting countless hypotheses (designing the net), designing and executing experiments (weaving the net), facing repeated failures, and analyzing data (modifying and refining the net) to catch the "discovery" fish.
| About Han Fei (韓非) As mentioned, this proverb appears to originate from an anecdote recorded in Han Fei's work, Han Fei Zi. Han Fei (c. 280 BCE – 233 BCE) was a prominent Legalist philosopher during the late Warring States period in ancient China. He was a student of Xunzi (荀子) and, along with his fellow student Li Si (李斯), systematized Legalist thought. Han Fei believed that human nature was inherently selfish and that a strong rule of law (法治, fa zhi) and the strengthening of the monarch's power were necessary to control a chaotic society and build a powerful state. His ideas deeply influenced Qin Shi Huang (始皇帝), the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, providing a theoretical foundation for Qin's unification of China. His work, Han Fei Zi, is based on a clear-eyed understanding of reality and a deep insight into human nature. He did not merely indulge in idealism but proposed concrete measures for practical problem-solving and governance. The proverb, "Rather than envying the fish in the river, it is better to go home and weave a net," exemplifies Han Fei's practical and results-oriented philosophy, emphasizing real effort over empty desires. |
