成由勤俭败由奢

成由勤儉敗由奢

chéngyóuqínjiǎnbàiyóushē

phrase

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

from, arises from

extravagant, luxurious

Examples

父母常告诫我们：成由勤俭败由奢。

Fùmǔ cháng gàojiè wǒmen: chéng yóu qínjiǎn bài yóu shē.

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

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, jiù yào dǒngde chéng yóu qínjiǎn bài yóu shē de dàolǐ.

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

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