《幼学琼林·卷四·鸟兽》
鸡口虽小却能进食，牛后虽大却专供排泄，故大丈夫宁为鸡口不做牛后。士君子应有大志，岂愿甘心雌伏，一定要奋发有为，时候一到定要雄飞。
大丈夫宁为鸡口，毋为牛后；士君子岂甘雌伏，定要雄飞。
As the proverb has it: though the chicken’s beak is small, it can still feed itself; though the ox’s rump is big, it can only serve the purpose of defecation. Therefore, it is better to be a chicken’s beak than an ox’s rump. A gentleman with ambition will never be content to lie low; he will certainly make himself useful and when the time comes he is bound to display his ability.