It means that although the journey of life is long and far away, as long as you take the first step, once you start walking, if you persist, quantitative changes will lead to qualitative changes, and you will eventually reach your destination.
From - Xunzi's "Xunzi·Cultivation of the Self" from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
Original text: Although the road is long, it cannot be accomplished if it is not possible; although the task is small, it cannot be accomplished if it is not done.
Translation: Although the journey is short, you will not reach your destination if you don’t walk; although the thing is small, you will not succeed if you don’t do it. Although the journey is long, it will be accomplished; although the task is difficult, it will not be accomplished.
Extended information:
About the author
Xunzi (about 313 BC - 238 BC), named Kuang, courtesy name Qing, Chinese nationality (Han nationality) ), a native of Zhao at the end of the Warring States Period?[1-7]?. A famous thinker, writer and politician, he was respectfully called "Xun Qing" by people at that time.
In the Western Han Dynasty, to avoid the taboo of Liu Xun, Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, and because the two characters "Xun" and "Sun" had the same ancient pronunciation, he was also called Sun Qing. He served as the wine-offering officer of Jixia Academy of Qi State three times, and later as the magistrate of Chu Lanling (located in present-day Lanling County, Shandong Province).
Xunzi developed Confucianism. On the issue of human nature, he advocated the theory of evil nature, advocated that human nature has evil, denied innate moral concepts, and emphasized the influence of acquired environment and education on people. His theory is often compared with Mencius' theory of "nature is good" by later generations. Xunzi also made a significant contribution to the rearrangement of Confucian classics.
Baidu Encyclopedia—Xunzi