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Saying
This too shall pass
Meaning: nothing lasts forever: not the pain, and not the glory.
- Example
- “It’s a hard year, but this too shall pass.”
- Where it comes from
- The story of a king who asks his wise men for one sentence that is true at every moment is told in Persian, Jewish and many other traditions.
Five languages. One truth: nothing lasts.
How other nations say it
Iran · Persianاین نیز بگذردīn nīz bogzaradLiterally: This, too, shall pass.
Türkiye · TurkishBu da geçer yâ HûLiterally: This, too, will pass, O Hû!Hû is a Sufi name for God. Old dervish lodges hung it on the wall.
Arab world · Arabicدوام الحال من المحالdawām al-ḥāl min al-muḥālLiterally: The permanence of any state is impossible.A rule of nature: every situation changes.
East Africa · SwahiliBaada ya dhiki, farajaLiterally: After hardship, relief.Only the hopeful half: bad times end.
China · Mandarin否极泰来pǐ jí tài láiLiterally: When hardship peaks, peace arrives.From the Book of Changes. Also only the hopeful half.
Sources
We check every idiom and its literal meaning in two sources before it goes on screen. Found a mistake? Tell us.
