proverb · Words worth keeping
It is possible to move mountains by carrying small stones.
It is possible to move mountains by carrying small stones.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying makes moving mountains possible by carrying small stones. As an analogy, a large undertaking is broken into modest contributions.
Example
A group divides a substantial project into defined stages and begins the first manageable piece.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The contrast of mountain and stone makes gradual progress visible. A useful application can identify a feasible part of a complex task while recognising that planning and resources matter. The phrase does not establish that every enormous goal can be completed through tiny actions alone.
When to use it
Use it as an explicit analogy about incremental progress.
Keep in mind
Small actions need a suitable plan; no universal feasibility claim is verified.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown