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Give a man a fish, feed home for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed for a lifetime.
Confucius
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Teaching others skills is more beneficial than providing temporary aid.

This quote from Confucius emphasizes the importance of education and self-sufficiency. It suggests that rather than simply providing a short-term solution to a problem, empowering someone with knowledge and skills leads to lasting benefits and independence, allowing them to thrive in the long run.

Themes

EducationTeachingSkillsSelf-SufficiencyEmpowerment

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of education reform.

More from Confucius

Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.
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Earnest in practicing the ordinary virtues, and careful in speaking about them, if, in his practice, he has anything defective, the superior man dares not but exert himself; and if, in his words, he has any excess, he dares not allow himself such license.
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When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.
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Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.
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The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
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Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
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