Jiā pín bù bàn sùshí; cōng rǒng bùxiá cǎoshū.

家貧不辦素食, 匆冗不暇草書。

Lit [If you are] poor, don't [think you can] entertain [your guests with] vegetarian food; [if] in a hurry, [you're] too busy to write in a fancy running hand.

Fig Don't attempt to take (what might appear to be) shortcuts. If you're going to do something, you have to do it right. One has to observe the proper forms if one wants to do something successfully.

Topics EFFORT SHORTCUTS SUCCESS