The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones

Similar sayings:

Small ills are the fountains of most of our groans Men trip not on mountains, they stumble on stones Small ills are the fountains of most of our groans Men trip not on mountains, they stumble on stones
Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend’s forehead Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend’s forehead
Man must be sharpened on man, like knife on stone Man must be sharpened on man, like knife on stone
A jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated A jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated
Everyone speaks well of the bridge which carries him over Everyone speaks well of the bridge which carries him over

Chinese sayings and proverbs