lín​yuān​xiàn​yú​bù​rú​tuì'ér​jié​wǎng

take practical steps to achieve a goal

Senses

临渊羡鱼,不如退而结网/ 臨淵羨魚,不如退而結網 lín​yuān​xiàn​yú​bù​rú​tuì'ér​jié​wǎng take practical steps to achieve a goal

It is better to go home and weave a net than to stand by the pond longing for fish; one should take practical action instead of just wishing for success.

临渊羡鱼,不如退而结网/ 臨淵羨魚,不如退而結網 lín​yuān​xiàn​yú​bù​rú​tuì'ér​jié​wǎng action is better than idle longing

to take action rather than idle wishing; literally: rather than standing by the edge of a deep pool and longing for fish, it is better to go home and weave a net

临渊羡鱼,不如退而结网/ 臨淵羨魚,不如退而結網 lín​yuān​xiàn​yú​bù​rú​tuì'ér​jié​wǎng taking action is better than idling

better to go home and weave a net than to stand by the pond and long for fish; it is more productive to take practical steps to achieve a goal than to merely admire it from afar

References

see 临渊羡鱼/臨淵羡魚 临渊羡鱼,不如退而结网/臨淵羨魚,不如退而結網
abbreviation 临渊羡鱼/臨淵羡魚 临渊羡鱼,不如退而结网/臨淵羨魚,不如退而結網