ABSTRACT
Chinese culture can be reflected, to a great extent, by Chinese popular sayings and famous quotes as it is generally acknowledged that the richness and beauty in the popular sayings and famous quotes in Chinese literature and culture are most representative of the mind and spirit of the Chinese people. The sources of all the entries of the popular sayings and famous quotes are listed and translated in dictionary. The task of tracing and translating the sources of all the entries is daunting. There are as many as 20,000 literary idioms and tens of thousands of popular maxims and sayings, in addition to the pithy and profound quotes to be gleaned from three millennia of Chinese philosophy and literature. The Chinese people place great emphasis on the way they talk, what should be talked about, how to avoid offending others in their talking, and how to judge a person by his speech.
