Nìngkě yùsuì, bùkě wǎquán.

寧可玉碎, 不可瓦全。

Lit Rather be a shattered jade [vessel] than an unbroken [piece of] pottery.

Fig It is better to die in glory than to live in dishonor.

Note [Also said as nìng wéi yùsuì, bù zuò wǎquán (q.v.); cf. Zàishēng Yuán, chap. 62; Běi Qí Shū; note: yùsuì, (lit) “shattered jade,” is a literary phrase meaning “death before dishonor.”]

Topics Běi Qí Shū COMPARISON DISHONOR GLORY HONOR yùsuì Zàishēng_Yuán