试金之石可试金，金可试人
Shì jīn zhī shí kě shì jīn, jīn kě shì rén
"A touchstone can test gold, and gold can test a person"
Character Analysis
Test (试) gold (金) 's stone (之石) can (可) test (试) gold (金), gold (金) can (可) test (试) person (人). A touchstone is a dark stone used to test the purity of precious metals.
Meaning & Significance
This proverb suggests that just as a touchstone reveals the purity of gold, money and wealth reveal a person's true character. It speaks to the corrupting influence of wealth and the importance of integrity when faced with material temptations.
This profound proverb operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it explains the practical use of a touchstone (试金石)—a dark stone used since ancient times to test the purity of gold by observing the streak left when metal is rubbed against it.
On a deeper level, it makes a philosophical observation about human nature: money and material wealth are the ultimate tests of character.
Interpretations
- Wealth reveals character: How someone handles money shows their true nature
- Power corrupts: Access to resources can bring out both the best and worst in people
- True friends remain: Financial hardship reveals who your real friends are
The Concept of 试金石
The touchstone (试金石) has become a metaphor in Chinese for anything that tests or reveals the true nature of something:
这次危机是检验我们团队的试金石。 “This crisis is the touchstone that will test our team.”
Modern Applications
This saying is particularly relevant in:
- Business ethics discussions
- Evaluating friendship authenticity
- Marriage and partnership decisions
- Understanding how people change with success or failure
Related Sayings
- 钱财如粪土，仁义值千金 (Qián cái rú fèn tǔ, rén yì zhí qiān jīn) - “Wealth is like dirt; benevolence is worth a thousand gold”
- 贫贱不能移 (Pín jiàn bù néng yí) - “Poverty and lowliness cannot alter one’s principles”