Enough shovels of earth make a mountain, enough pails of water a river

Similar sayings:

Rivers and mountains may change; human nature, never Rivers and mountains may change; human nature, never
Man is Heaven and Earth in miniature Man is Heaven and Earth in miniature
Do not insult the crocodile until you’ve crossed the river Do not insult the crocodile until you’ve crossed the river
You must have crossed the river before you may tell the crocodile he has bad breath You must have crossed the river before you may tell the crocodile he has bad breath
No matter how tall the mountain, it cannot block out the sun No matter how tall the mountain, it cannot block out the sun

Chinese sayings and proverbs