A
Chinese proverb 螳螂捕蝉, 黄雀在后 (tang2 lang2 bu3 chan2, huang2 que4 zai4 hou4). A
warning not to get too
proud or
smug with one's
successes (or
perceived successes) to
forget or
ignore any
danger that
lurks.
The
story behind this proverb is quite easy to
understand, and can be
observed in the
wild. As the
praying mantis slowly approaches the unsuspecting
cricket, it is unaware that a
sparrow is behind him, only waiting for it to
pounce on the cricket before it
gobbles both up.
(
Killing two insects with one peck! Clever bird.)
This proverb also refers to those who lack
perspective and who focus only on plans to
rip off other people, and
forget that there are others
plotting to
profit from him as well. (The
underlying message is to be
street smart and to
guard your
back as well.)