Chinese idiom · 成语
居安思危
Meaning
In safety, think of danger; to stay vigilant in peace.
Character by character
Origin and story
Historical accountIn the Zuozhuan, Duke Xiang's eleventh year, the ruler of Jin offers Wei Jiang part of a musical gift as thanks for helping bring stability and cooperation among states. Wei Jiang directs credit to the ruler and his colleagues, then turns the celebration into a reminder: enjoying peace must not mean forgetting how it could end.
He cites a saying from the Shu, the Documents, about considering danger while secure, and explains that foresight leads to preparation, which reduces vulnerability to trouble. The ruler accepts the warning and insists that Wei Jiang also accept the reward. The idiom therefore combines appreciation of present security with responsibility for preserving it.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
即使系统运行正常，我们也要居安思危，定期备份重要资料。
Even when the system is running normally, we should prepare for possible trouble and regularly back up important files.
Positive; stresses prudent preparation during good conditions, not constant panic.