
In the Chinese culture, He Dragon is a symbol which represents power, prosperity, wisdom and transformation. In the meantime, the ant symbolizes Humility, perseverance and the ability to endure difficulties without giving up. So the saying turns out to be a lesson for success.
The figure of the dragon appears in Neolithic artifacts from around 6200 BC. BC., such as jade and stone motifs from the Xinglongwa culture. During the Shang Dynasty, it became a symbol of Qi (life energy) and spiritual authority.
According to popular belief, during Chinese New Year and the Boat Festival, the dragon dance drives away evil and brings prosperity. In addition, it is a figure rich in palaces, paintings and imperial Chinese architecture.
As I said, the ant represents diligence, work and even humility, just like in the West.
Although the saying “Before you become a dragon, you must suffer like an ant.” It generally appears to be of Chinese origin and is even attributed to the great philosopher Confucius, but there is no evidence for this. It is more likely to have originated from blogs and social media posts, especially since 2019.
Although the origin is uncertain, the expression conveys a lesson Modest effort can lead to success. His words indicate this There is no easy path to excellence. and that before one becomes someone powerful or successful (the dragon), one must, like the ant, go through difficulties, constant effort and patience.
The page Pure cuisine interprets the following: “There is no easy path to success. To achieve the goal in life, you have to climb step by step.” He adds: “Although we may sometimes feel stuck or not moving forward, it is important to realize that it is the small daily efforts that make us successful people in the long run.”
This saying, be it from ancient China or from social networks, applies in certain areas: