Row with the current and your oars stay cool.

What it means

Not every fight is worth rowing against. Going with the flow at the right moment saves your strength for the moments that matter. Pick your battles and let the river do some of the work.

The source

"Row with the current and your oars stay cool." This Vietnamese proverb is recorded in Huỳnh Tịnh Của, Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (1897), letter C. Translated from the original Vietnamese by Spartan Surfers.

"Chèo xuôi mát mái."

Original Vietnamese, Huỳnh Tịnh Của, Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (1897), letter C. Text read at vi.wikisource.org.

Who said it

Proverbs of the world (Every age). Sayings from the Latin, Greek, Norse, Japanese, Chinese and more, each traced to an old source in its own language.

Questions

What does "Row with the current and your oars stay cool." mean?

Not every fight is worth rowing against. Going with the flow at the right moment saves your strength for the moments that matter. Pick your battles and let the river do some of the work.

Who said "Row with the current and your oars stay cool."?

Vietnamese proverb. Source: Huỳnh Tịnh Của, Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (1897), letter C.

What is the original Vietnamese?

Chèo xuôi mát mái. Translated from the original Vietnamese by Spartan Surfers.

Is "Row with the current and your oars stay cool." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Row with the current and your oars stay cool." (Vietnamese proverb, Huỳnh Tịnh Của, Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (1897), letter C, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/row-with-the-current-and-your-oars-stay