Basic Info
- Chinese Idiom: 安不忘危 (Ān bù wàng wēi)
- Pinyin: ān bù wàng wēi
- Literal meaning: “In safety, do not forget danger.”
(安 = peace / safety / security; 不 = do not; 忘 = forget; 危 = danger / crisis / disaster)
Figurative Definition
It means that in times of peace, prosperity, or security, one must remain alert to possible dangers and disasters. It warns against complacency and encourages constant vigilance, preparation, and foresight. Success or stability should never make a person or nation careless, because conditions can change suddenly.
In short: do not let comfort make you blind to risk.
Cultural & Historical Origin
This idiom has deep roots in classical Chinese political philosophy.
- The Book of Changes (《周易·系辞下》):
是故君子安而不忘危，存而不忘亡，治而不忘乱。
Therefore, the gentleman, when safe, does not forget danger; when surviving, does not forget ruin; when orderly, does not forget chaos.
- Han Dynasty – Yang Xiong, Changyang Fu (扬雄《长杨赋》):
事罔隆而不杀，物靡盛而不亏，故平不肆险，安不忘危。
No affair reaches its peak without declining; no thing flourishes without waning. Therefore, in peace do not be careless about danger; in safety do not forget peril.
The message is rooted in the Chinese philosophical awareness of cyclical change – the idea that prosperity and decline, order and chaos, safety and danger are always turning into one another. To survive, one must remain watchful.
Key Lesson
Complacency is itself a danger. When everything is going well, it is easy to relax, ignore warnings, and assume that the good times will last forever. But crises often arrive when people least expect them. The wise person enjoys peace without being lulled by it – staying prepared, monitoring risks, and keeping a clear head.
Cultural Note
“安不忘危” is closely related to “居安思危” (jū ān sī wēi – “in times of safety, think of danger”), which is more commonly used in modern Chinese. Both express a core Chinese value: vigilance in prosperity.
Its opposites are “高枕无忧” (gāo zhěn wú yōu – “rest on a high pillow without worry,” meaning complacency) and “乐以忘忧” (lè yǐ wàng yōu – “to be so happy as to forget worry”).
In modern usage, it appears in governance, business management, national security, and personal life – reminding leaders and individuals alike that stability is never guaranteed and must be protected.
Similar English Expressions
- In times of peace, prepare for war. – The closest classical equivalent – remain prepared even when safe.
- Forewarned is forearmed. – Preparation based on awareness of possible danger.
- Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. – Stay optimistic but remain ready for trouble.
- Don’t be complacent. – A direct warning against false security.
- Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. – A famous warning about the need for constant watchfulness.
- A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. – Different nuance – about risk and purpose, not vigilance.
- Keep your powder dry. – Stay prepared for danger (historical/military).
- Safety first. – Modern, practical version of the same idea.
The closest and most natural equivalent is “In times of peace, prepare for war” or “Don’t be complacent.”
In short, “安不忘危” means in safety do not forget danger – a timeless warning that peace and prosperity are never permanent, and that vigilance is the price of lasting security.
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