小不忍则乱大谋 xiǎo bù rěn zé luàn dà móu

DEFINITIONS

  1. (idiom) great plans can be ruined by just a touch of impatience

CHARACTERS

小 xiǎo small, tiny, insignificant
不 bù no, not; un-; negative prefix
忍 rěn endure, bear, suffer; forbear
则 zé rule, law, regulation; grades
乱 luàn confusion, state of chaos, revolt
大 dà big, great, vast, large, high
谋 móu plan, scheme; stratagem