说了又不听

Heard this was used in one of Andy Lau’s movie…

Ever come across something that makes you laugh…and then immediately cringe because it’s so true?

I stumbled upon this a couple of years ago, and it has stayed with me ever since — absolute gold!

If anyone knows the original source of this saying, please let me know. I’d love to give it proper credit.

For those who may find it helpful, here is a translation:

说了又不听
(Said, but not listened to)

听了又不懂
(Listened, but not understood)

不懂又不问
(Didn’t understand, yet didn’t ask)

问了又不做
(Asked, but didn’t act)

做了又做错
(Acted, but made mistakes)

错了又不认
(Made mistakes, but wouldn’t admit them)

认了又不改
(Admitted it, but didn’t change)

改了又不服
(Changed, but remained resentful)

不服又不说
(Resentful, yet said nothing)

I’m sure some of you can relate, or maybe someone even popped into your mind as you read the lines above. Either way, the message speaks for itself.

Which line matters most to you? I’ll leave that to you — just make sure to read it in the full context.

Whether it’s with management, colleagues, teams, friends, or even yourself, leadership starts with the person in the mirror. Let this be a reminder — not something to use against others, or even ourselves, but a prompt to check in, reflect, and grow.