靡不有初,鲜克有终 [ mǐ bù yǒu chū,xiǎn kè yǒu zhōng ]

基本释义

靡:无;初:开始;鲜:少;克:能。事情都有个开头,但很少能到终了。多用以告诫人们为人做事要善始善终。

出 处

《诗经·大雅·荡》:“荡荡上帝,下民之辟。疾威上帝,其命多辟。天生烝民,其命匪谌。靡不有初,鲜克有终。”

英文翻译

almost everything has a start, but not many things have an end (idiom); don't start sth you can't handle