鴻鵠之志

From Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian.

陳涉少時，嘗與人傭耕，輟耕之壟上，悵恨久之，曰：「苟富貴，無相忘。」傭者笑而應曰：「若為傭耕，何富貴也？」陳涉太息曰：「嗟乎，燕雀安知鴻鵠之志哉！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]

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陈涉少时，尝与人佣耕，辍耕之垄上，怅恨久之，曰：“苟富贵，无相忘。”佣者笑而应曰：“若为佣耕，何富贵也？”陈涉太息曰：“嗟乎，燕雀安知鸿鹄之志哉！” [Classical Chinese, simp.]

Chén shè shào shí, cháng yǔ rén yōnggēng, chuò gēng zhī lǒng shàng, chànghèn jiǔzhī, yuē: “Gǒu fùguì, wú xiàng wàng.” Yōng zhě xiào ér yìng yuē: “Ruò wèi yōnggēng, hé fùguì yě?” Chén shè tàixī yuē: “Jiē hū, yànquè ān zhī hónghúzhīzhì zāi!” [Pinyin]

When Chen She was young, he worked in the fields with other day laborers. One day, he stopped working and climbed to the top of a hill. He was sullen for quite some time, then said, "If I become rich, I will not forget you all." The other workers laughed, and responded, "You're a day labourer, what riches?" Chen She sighed, and said, "Alas, how can a little songbird understand the ambitions of a grand swan!"

鴻鵠之志

1. the ambitions of a great person