十年树木,百年树人
It Takes Ten Years to Grow Trees and a Hundred Years to Nurture Talents
比喻栽培树木使之成材需要很长时间,培育人才则需要更长时间。其中的道理有两层:第一,培养和选拔人才关乎国家、社会的长远发展;第二,人才的培养和成长应立足于长远发展,要有战略眼光和整体规划,需作持久的努力。
This alludes to the long time it takes for a tree to grow, yet even longer time it takes to nurture talents. The implications are twofold: first, identifying and bring up talents has long-term significance for the development of a country and a society; second, nurturing talents should be an undertaking pursued with strategic vision, sustained efforts and according to a comprehensive plan.
引例 CITATION
一年之计,莫如树谷;十年之计,莫如树木;终身之计,莫如树人。一树一获者,谷也;一树十获者,木也;一树百获者,人也 (《管子·权修》)
When planning for a year, there is nothing like growing crops; when planning for a decade, there is nothing like planting trees; when planning for a lifetime, there is nothing like nurturing talents. When you grow crops, you get one harvest; when you plant trees, you get a tenfold harvest; when you nurture talents, you get a hundredfold harvest. (Guanzi)