Quotations

Proverb

β€œ

When things go well, credit yourself; when badly, blame ancestors.

β€” Korean proverb; individual author and earliest origin unknown

Explore Wisdom

A river flowing around smooth stones beneath a willow at sunset.
AI-generated editorial illustration Β· Quotations
Sign in to save β™‘

What does this proverb mean?

It mocks taking credit for success while avoiding responsibility for failure.

Sources and attribution

Unattributed Traditional proverb; individual author and earliest use unknown.

Source: National Institute of Korean Language β€” Korean Basic Dictionary , Korean Basic Dictionary proverb lookup: 잘되면 제 탓 λͺ»λ˜λ©΄ 쑰상 탓

Origin: Korean proverb; individual author and earliest origin unknown

View reference β†—

Traditional Korean saying. English rendering and explanation by Quotations; not copied from the dictionary’s definitions. The reference documents usage, not first authorship.

Suggest an attribution correction β†—

Keep exploring