善始善终

Pronunciation: shàn shǐ shàn zhōng Literal meaning: Good start good end

Origin & Usage

To begin (始) well (善) and end (终) well. The thought is the Zhuangzi's, and the Records of the Grand Historian applies it to Chen Ping, who survived the entire savage transition from Liu Bang to the Empress Lü to Emperor Wen with his position and his reputation intact — which in that generation of politics was the achievement. The phrase is not about excellence throughout so much as about landing: many people begin well, and the Chinese observation is that the ending is the part that is usually botched.

Examples

English: "He always believes that a good plan leads to a successful outcome, embodying the principle of starting and finishing well."

Chinese: 他总是相信善始善终，好的计划会带来成功的结果。