Lí shān shí lǐ, chái zài wūlǐ; lí shān yī lǐ, chái zài shān lǐ.

離山十里柴在屋裡, 離山一里柴在山裡。

Lit Ten miles away from the mountains, [there is] firewood at home; one mile away from the mountains, [there is] firewood in the mountains.

Fig Adverse conditions make people forge ahead, while overly favorable conditions make people lazy.

Note [Based on a popular Ming dynasty folk story.]

Topics CHALLENGES CONDITIONS folk story LAZINESS Ming_dynasty