Life

7 Chinese New Year Quotes To Inspire You

by Kathryn Kattalia

The year of the monkey is officially upon us! Feb. 8 marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, and with dazzling celebrations underway all around the world, these inspiring Chinese New Year quotes and proverbs about life, love, and luck couldn't be more fitting. The Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, is normally celebrated during the first new moon that lands between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. The celebrations last for two weeks, and are full of feasts, family, and parades. This year's festivities celebrate the year of the monkey, which is exciting for a number of reasons. People who are born during a monkey year are thought to be "ambitious and adventurous," meaning this year could hold plenty of exciting new experiences and encounters.

Traditional Chinese New Year celebrations center strongly around family, especially as the festival first kicks off. So, tell your loved ones how much you love them, perhaps even by sharing one of these proverbs below. Not only are these words wise, they are beautiful as well — there is a reason why they've managed to resonate for so many years. Then, check out how the rest of the world is celebrating the beginning of the new lunar year. It truly is a stunning time.

1. "A good fortune may forebode a bad luck, which may in turn disguise a good fortune." — Chinese Proverb

PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images

2. "If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else." — Chinese Proverb

3. "A smile will gain you 10 more years of life." — Chinese Proverb

4. "Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only to stand still." — Chinese Proverb

Bryan Thomas/Getty Images News/Getty Images

5. "If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow." — Chinese Proverb

6. "Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere." — Chinese Proverb

7. "A great fortune in the hands of a fool is a great misfortune." — Chinese Proverb