A filial son comes from a poor family, and a loyal official appears in a national crisis: Children from a poor family will be filial to their parents, and only when the country is in difficulty will they know whether the official is loyal or not.
You know the pines and cypresses when you are cold, and the true love is revealed in times of adversity: Only in the cold season can you see the tenacity of pines and cypresses, and only after experiencing hardships can you know whether the relationship is true or not.
A horse's power can be seen over a long journey, and a person's heart can be seen over time: Only a long journey can tell a horse's ability, and a long time can make people see their true inner thoughts.
A poor family will produce a filial son, and a national crisis will produce a loyal minister. This is an old saying that has been circulating among the people for many years.
You will know the pines and cypresses when you are cold. It comes from "Learning is the First" in "The Analects". The original sentence is "When the years are cold, you will know that the pines and cypresses will wither." . The author is a disciple of Confucius and his disciples.
A friend in need is a friend indeed, from Chapter 10 of "Zui Xing Shi" (Qing Dynasty, Donglu Gu Kuangsheng): "Pu Xingfu is a friend in need. Today, my brother is looking after him for us. In the future, we will also look after him." Brother Dai Nian, look at him." Later, the saying "a friend in need is a friend indeed" came into being. The author is naturally Donglu Gu Kuangsheng of the Qing Dynasty.
These two sentences are just put together when they are quoted by others! ~Not written by one person! ~
Source: Volume 9 of "Shi Lin Guang Ji" by Chen Yuanliang of the Song Dynasty: "The road is far away to tell the horse's power, and the long journey can tell the people's heart."
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