Dǎ qiáng yě shì dòngtǔ.

打牆也是動土。

Lit Building a wall also [requires] moving earth.

Fig Building a wall requires almost as much work as building a house, so why not build a house? If one is going to undertake something, why stop at half measures? Why not “go the whole hog”/go “all the way”?

Note [Cf. DRC, chap. 29; note: dòngtǔ (lit) “moving earth”; (fig) “to build a house or tomb.”]

Topics COMPLETION COURAGE DETERMINATION DRC