生於憂患，死於安樂

From Mencius (《孟子·告子下》):

……人恒過，然後能改。困於心，衡於慮，而後作。徵於色，發於聲，而後喻。入則無法家拂士、出則無敵國外患者，國恒亡。然後知生於憂患，而死於安樂也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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……人恒过，然后能改。困于心，衡于虑，而后作。征于色，发于声，而后喻。入则无法家拂士、出则无敌国外患者，国恒亡。然后知生于忧患，而死于安乐也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

...... Rén héng guò, ránhòu néng gǎi. Kùn yú xīn, héng yú lǜ, érhòu zuò. Zhēng yú sè, fā yú shēng, érhòu yù. Rù zé wú fǎjiā bìshì, chū zé wú díguó wàihuàn zhě, guó héng wáng. Ránhòu zhī shēng yú yōuhuàn, ér sǐ yú ānyuè yě. [Pinyin]

… Men for the most part err, and are afterwards able to reform. They are distressed in mind and perplexed in their thoughts, and then they arise to vigorous reformation. When things have been evidenced in men's looks, and set forth in their words, then they understand them. If a prince have not about his court families attached to the laws and worthy counsellors, and if abroad there are not hostile States or other external calamities, his kingdom will generally come to ruin. From these things we see how life springs from sorrow and calamity, and death from ease and pleasure.

生於憂患，死於安樂

1. Life springs from sorrow and calamity; death comes from ease and pleasure.