"People without long-term considerations will surely have immediate worries" comes from The Analects: Duke Ling of Wei, and is a famous saying by Confucius. Its literal meaning is: if a person does not think about the long term, immediate troubles are sure to arise. Its deeper meaning emphasizes the importance of forward-looking thinking and planning: whether in personal life, work, or state governance, if one focuses only on immediate interests or muddles along without planning ahead, one will sooner or later fall into difficulty. It is used in a wide range of contexts, whether to admonish others to take the long view or to remind oneself. In cultural background, it reflects the Confucian wisdom of maintaining a sense of hardship and remaining vigilant in times of peace, and it is in the same vein as "survive in adversity, perish in comfort." Its emotional tone is relatively serious and cautionary, carrying a sense of encouragement and warning, and it is often used as a motto or a reminder in decision-making.
📝 Example
1. You never save money or learn new skills. A person who does not think about the future will soon have worries at hand. What will you do if you lose your job in the future? (Meaning: without long-term plans, one will encounter immediate difficulties.)
2. The company's management only pursues short-term profits and neglects technological research and development. A person who does not think about the future will soon have worries at hand, and sooner or later the company will be eliminated by the market. (Meaning: a lack of foresight will inevitably lead to future troubles.)