既生瑜，何生亮

既生瑜，何生亮

Literally means:

now Zhou Yu has come to this world, why should Zhuge Liang also be born?

Actually means:

out of jealousy, two men of equal talent would not bear the existence of each other

既, since; 何, why; 瑜, Zhou Yu, a narrow-minded supreme commander of Kingdom Wu in the period of Three Kingdoms, who envied the talents of Zhuge Liang; Liang, Zhuge Liang, Prime Minister of Kingdom Shu in the same period was a very wise man. The phrase means, since Zhou Yu, a talent, has come into this world, then, Zhuge Liang, equally talented, should not be born.

It figuratively means two men of equal talents will compete against each other, which will lead to hatred and jealousy between them. It connotes the Creator sometimes play tricks on human beings.

既，既然；何，何必；瑜，周瑜，三国时候东吴的大将，气量很小，嫉妒诸葛亮的才能；亮，诸葛亮，三国时候蜀汉的丞相，很有智谋。一表示既然生了周瑜，何必又生诸葛亮。

比喻两个才干差不多的人或者实力差不多的人或事物之间互相竞争，而且会产生嫉恨。含有感慨造物主作弄人的意味。