When conditions are ripe, success follows naturally.
📜 Origin
《答李翊书》
💡 Detailed Explanation
"Shui dao qu cheng" literally means where water flows, a channel is naturally formed. It is a metaphor for things succeeding naturally when conditions are ripe. It comes from Su Shi's "Reply to Li Yi's Letter" in the Song Dynasty: "When it reaches maturity, then writing cannot be exhausted in use, like the water of rivers and seas, surging and unstoppable, where water flows, a channel forms, with no need for prior worry." This idiom emphasizes following natural laws, not forcing pursuit, and focusing on early accumulation and seizing the right timing. It is often used to describe study, work, career, and other aspects, where after long-term effort and preparation, a goal is finally achieved smoothly. Its emotional tone is generally positive, carrying a sense of optimism and composure. In cultural background, it reflects the integration of the Daoist idea of "governing by non-interference" and the Confucian idea that "when effort reaches its limit, success comes naturally," encouraging people to be down-to-earth and patiently wait for conditions to mature rather than seek quick success and instant benefits. In use, it often serves as a predicate or attributive, and can also stand alone as a sentence.
📝 Example
1. After three years of hard study, it was only natural that he would get into his ideal university. (Referring to conditions being ripe and success coming naturally.)
2. As long as the preliminary market research is done solidly, product promotion will follow naturally. (Referring to success being inevitable once the preparatory work is sufficient.)