Zhǐ ér, bù yǎnglǎo; zhǐ dì, bù dǎliáng.

指兒不養老, 指地不打糧。

Lit Don't count on your sons to support you when you're old, [just as you] don't count on the land for harvests.

Fig Don't count on others to help you. If you pin too much hope on others, you will be disappointed.

Note [See also zhǐ qīn bù fù below.]

Topics HELP HOPE PARENTS SONS SUPPORT