玉不琢,不成器

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Chinese

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jade not; no to cut (gems) to not grow up to be a talented or useful person
trad. (玉不琢,不成器) 不成器
simp. #(玉不琢,不成器) 不成器

Etymology

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From the Book of Rites, Book 18 (《禮記·學記》):

玉不琢,不成器是故 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
玉不琢,不成器是故 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Yù bù zhuó, bù chéng qì; rén bù xué, bù zhī dào. Shìgù gǔ zhī wáng zhě jiàn guó jūn mín, jiào xué wèi xiān. [Pinyin]
The jade uncut will not form a vessel for use; and if men do not learn, they do not know the way (in which they should go). On this account the ancient kings, when establishing states and governing the people, made instruction and schools a primary object.

Pronunciation

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Proverb

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玉不琢,不成器

  1. One must be educated and endure trials to succeed.