overconfidence

  • 高枕无忧 (gāo zhěn wú yōu)

    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 高枕无忧Pinyin: gāo zhěn wú yōuLiteral Meaning: Prop one’s pillow high and sleep without worry. Figurative definition Cultural & historical background This idiom comes directly from the same famous story as “狡兔三窟” (The cunning rabbit has three burrows), recorded in the Warring States Records (Zhanguoce, 《战国策》). The powerful noble Lord Mengchang…

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 23.14

    Han Feizi tells an elder chides a conceited Chu prince bent on attacking Chen. Citing Goujian’s decade-long grueling preparation to revive Yue, the elder mocks his blind overconfidence; great conquests demand persistent hard work instead of rash optimism.

  • The Chu hunter’s bamboo flute

    The deer is afraid of the wolf; the wolf of the tiger; and the tiger of the wild bear, the most ferocious and powerful of all animals, walking erect, with long hair hanging from its head.