勿以善小而不为

勿以善小而不為

wùyǐshànxiǎoérbùwéi

phrase

Meanings

1 do not fail to do good just because it is small
2 never consider a good deed too trivial to perform

Characters

don't (classical)

because of / take as

and so / and (classical)

Examples

勿以善小而不为，一句鼓励的话也能温暖人心。

Wù yǐ shàn xiǎo ér bù wéi, yī jù gǔlì de huà yě néng wēnnuǎn rénxīn.

Never think a good deed too small to do — a single word of encouragement can warm the heart.

从小事做起，勿以善小而不为。

Cóng xiǎoshì zuò qǐ, wù yǐ shàn xiǎo ér bù wéi.

Start with small things; don't dismiss a good deed because it's small.

Tips

history

From the deathbed edict of Liu Bei (刘备), founder of Shu Han, to his son Liu Shan, recorded in the 《三国志》: 勿以恶小而为之，勿以善小而不为 — 'Do no evil, however small; miss no good, however small.' Often cited as the textbook Confucian injunction on moral consistency.

usage

Almost always paired with its twin 勿以恶小而为之. Standard material for moral-education posters, primary-school textbooks, and civic campaigns.

Stroke Order

勿 wù

以 yǐ

善 shàn

小 xiǎo

而 ér

不 bù

为 wèi