Lǔ zì mài qiú ér bù shòu; shì zì yù biàn ér bù xìn.

虜自賣裘而不售, 士自譽辯而不信。

Lit [Just as a non-Han Chinese] minority person won't [be able to] sell a fur coat [even if he boasts of its quality], [so] a scholar who praises himself won't be believed.

Fig Self-recommendation will come to nothing.

Note [Cf. Hán Fēizǐ: Shuō Lín Xià; note: here lǔ is an old term previously used to refer to ethnic minorities from China's border areas.]

Topics BRAGGING ethnic minorities Hán Fēizǐ non-Han SCHOLARS SELF-PROMOTION Shuō_Lín_Xià