Qiān lǐ zhī dī; kuì yú yǐxué.*

千里之堤, 潰於蟻穴。

Lit A thousand-league long dike [can] collapse because of an ant hole.

Fig Slight negligence may lead to great disaster; “a small leak can sink a great ship.”

Note [Cf. Hán Fēizǐ: Yù Lǎo; note: traditionally one lǐ equals approximately one-half of a kilometer.]

Topics DISASTER Hán Fēizǐ NEGLIGENCE PRECAUTIONS PREPARATION