Xiān xià mǐ, xiān chī fàn.

先下米, 先吃飯。

Lit The first to put the rice on [to cook will be] the first to eat.

Fig The one who takes action first will get results first; “first in, first out.”

Note [Cf. Jīn Píng Méi (JPM), chap. 84; Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 34; note: there is no element of competition implied, unlike “the early bird gets the worm”; see also the following entry.]

Topics ACTION Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn JPM RESULTS TIMING