Děi rěn, qiě rěn; děi nài, qiě nài; bù rěn, bù nài; xiǎoshì chéng dà.

Lit [What you] should bear, bear; [when you should] be patient, be patient; [if you are] not forbearing [and] patient, small matters [can] become big [ones].

Fig Restrain yourself as much as possible, otherwise small problems will become big ones.

Topics FORBEARANCE PATIENCE SELF-RESTRAINT