You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back

Similar sayings:

To know the road ahead, ask those coming back To know the road ahead, ask those coming back
Once on a tiger’s back it is hard to alight Once on a tiger’s back it is hard to alight
You think you’ve lost your horse? Who knows, he may bring a whole herd back to you someday You think you’ve lost your horse? Who knows, he may bring a whole herd back to you someday
Four things come not back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life and the neglected opportunity. Four things come not back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life and the neglected opportunity.

Chinese sayings and proverbs