简单记英语：宁为鸡口，无为牛后。

中式：

It is better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox.

宁为鸡口，无为牛后。

Would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail.

宁做鸡头，不做凤尾。

英式：

Better  be the head of an ass than the tail of a horse.

宁为驴头，不为马尾。

Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.

宁为犬首,不作狮尾。

Better be the head of a lizard than the tail of a dragon.

宁为蜥蜴首,不为长龙尾。

Better be the head of an ass than the tail of a horse.

Better to be an ant's head than a lion's tail.

Better an ant's head than a lion's tail.