stand by the pond and long for fish; stand on the edge of a pool and idly long for fish; cherish illusions ❍ 是威武，可惜你我手无寸铁， 还不是～吆。 (李六如 《六十年的变迁》 Ⅰ—121)They’re really splendid! Too bad we were not armed like them ourselves and can only stand here and vainly admire them. ❍ ～，不如归而结网。(《汉书·礼乐志》) It is better to go back and make a net than to stand by the pond and long for fish.
临渊羡鱼lin yuan xian yu
stand by a pond longing for fish
临渊羡鱼lín yuān xiàn yú
渊：深渊；羡：希望得到。在深水潭边看到鱼很想得到，还不如回去织网。比喻只是空想，不去努力工作，毫无用处。one should take practical steps to achieve one’s aims, cherish illusions, empty wish and hope