In 1043 AD, Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty appointed the reform-minded Fan Zhongyan as Vice Grand Councilor. Fan immediately proposed ten measures to eliminate corrupt governance.
However, the conservative Prime Minister Lu Yijian launched a fierce attack on Fan Zhongyan. Unable to withstand pressure from the conservative faction, Emperor Renzong demoted Fan Zhongyan to the position of Prefect of Dengzhou.
Fan Zhongyan had a close friend named Teng Zongliang, who was also demoted to prefect of Yuezhou for supporting reform.
On the west gate tower of Yuezhou stood Yueyang Tower, first built during the Tang Dynasty but fallen into disrepair after centuries of wind and rain. When Teng Zijing arrived in Yuezhou, he restored the tower and invited Fan Zhongyan to compose "Record of Yueyang Tower."
In *Record of Yueyang Tower*, Fan Zhongyan first describes the tower's strategic location and grand scale, then vividly captures the shifting emotions of exiled officials and disheartened scholars as they gaze upon the scenery.
Finally, Fan Zhongyan expressed his boundless emotions:
“Ah! I once studied the thoughts of ancient benevolent scholars—their conduct was entirely different from that of exiled officials or frustrated literati. Why was this? Because these ancient sages neither rejoiced in beautiful scenery nor grieved over their own misfortunes. When they held the high office of prime minister, they worried for the people; when they lived in obscurity by the rivers and lakes, they worried for their sovereign. So when did they ever find joy? If asked, they would surely reply: 'Worry before the world's worries; rejoice after the world's joys!'”
Later, the idiom "worry first, enjoy later" came to describe those who worry before others and enjoy after them.
Source: *Fan Zhongyan (Song Dynasty), "Record of Yueyang Tower"*
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "先忧后乐" came to describe how those who worry before others and enjoy after them.