Swallows and Sparrows, Swans and Geese

[Meaning]

A metaphor for the fact that small-minded people cannot understand the grand ambitions of great people. It is often used in the form of 'How can a swallow or sparrow know the ambition of a swan or goose?' to mean that small-minded people cannot comprehend the magnificent aspirations of great individuals.

[Example]

Those around him laughed at his plan as reckless, but he possessed an ambition so great it made one think of the divide between swallows and swans.

[Origin and History]

[Source] Records of the Grand Historian, 'Biography of Chen She'
Chen Sheng (courtesy name She, ?-208 BC) was from Yangcheng in Henan during the end of the Qin dynasty, and in his youth, he was a day laborer hired by others to farm. One day, he stopped working, went to a high spot in the field, and after deep contemplation, said to his fellow farmers, 'If we become wealthy and noble in the future, let us not forget each other.' His companions mocked him, saying, 'You are a hired laborer, how could you ever become wealthy and noble?' Hearing this, Chen Sheng sighed and lamented, 'Alas, how can a swallow or sparrow know the ambition of a swan or goose?' (meaning: how could small birds like swallows and sparrows understand the ambitions of large birds like swans and geese?). Later, Chen Sheng, along with Wu Guang, raised an army against the tyranny of the Qin (the Chen Sheng-Wu Guang Uprising, 209 BC), which sparked the fall of the Qin dynasty. 'Yan' (swallow) and 'Jue' (sparrow) are small, common birds used as metaphors for small-minded people, while 'Hong' (swan) and 'Hu' (goose/swan) are large birds used as metaphors for great people and heroes.

[Synonyms]

Ambition of a swan or goose

[Antonyms]

[Supplementary Notes]

'Yanjue' (swallows and sparrows) is a metaphor for small-minded people, and 'Honghu' (swans and geese) is a metaphor for great people who fly high. The four characters alone represent the contrast between the two, and it is usually used based on the original phrase 'How can a swallow or sparrow know the ambition of a swan or goose?' As a quote from Chen Sheng, 'Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born of a special lineage?' is also famous, and the two are often discussed together.