Guójiā qiángdà le, lǎobǎixìng yāogǎn cái néng tǐng qǐlái.
Only when the country is strong can ordinary people hold their heads high.
Tips
usage
腰杆 is most powerful in its figurative sense. 腰杆硬 (yāogǎn yìng, 'spine is hard') = confident, backed by something solid. 腰杆软 (yāogǎn ruǎn) = lacking the standing or backing to push back. The image is the spine staying straight when challenged.
