成由勤俭败由奢

成由勤儉敗由奢

chéng yóu qínjiǎn bài yóu shē

quotation

Meanings

1 success comes from diligence and thrift; failure from extravagance
2 achievement stems from industry and frugality, ruin from luxury (literally)

Characters

succeed, achieve

from, arises from

thrifty, frugal

fail, be ruined

extravagant, luxurious

Examples

HSK 5

一个企业想长久发展，就要懂得成由勤俭败由奢的道理。

Yíge qǐyè xiǎng chángjiǔ fāzhǎn, jiùyào dǒngde chéngyóuqínjiǎnbàiyóushē de dàolǐ.

For a company to last, it must grasp that success grows from thrift and ruin from extravagance.

HSK 7-9

父母常告诫我们：成由勤俭败由奢。

Fùmǔ cháng gàojiè wǒmen: chéngyóuqínjiǎnbàiyóushē.

Our parents often warn us: success comes from thrift, ruin from luxury.

Tips

history

From the Tang poet Li Shangyin 李商隐's 《咏史二首·其二》: 历览前贤国与家，成由勤俭败由奢。 (Looking over the former worthies' states and families: success came from thrift, ruin from extravagance.) Widely cited in modern anti-corruption and thrift campaigns.

usage

由 here = 'arises from / depends on.' Often paired with 历览前贤国与家.

Stroke Order

成 chéng

由 yóu

勤 qín

俭 jiǎn

败 bài

奢 shē