“What’s the difference between being tired and exhausted?”

Some mock Chinese proverbs (supposedly of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius) have been published since at least 1996:
 
ConFuSciouS SayS:
“man who run in front of car get tired”
“man who run behind car get exhausted”
 
The joke was published in a slightly different form on Reddit on June 30, 2016:
 
“What’s the difference between tired and exhausted?
When you run in front of a car, you get tired
When you run behind a car, you get exhausted.”
   
The “Confucius say” joke has been made into GIFs.
 
     
Google Groups: rec.humor
need Confucius-like sayings
Carla A. Codorniz
7/31/97
(...)
—————Forwarded message—————
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 10:13:56 -0500 (CDT)
From: Spiff
To: Carla

Cc: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Subject: Fwd: Confucious say (fwd)
 
ConFuSciouS SayS:
 
“man who run in front of car get tired”
“man who run behind car get exhausted”
     
Google Groups: van.general
Speeding Protest Aug 14th 2:30PM - 3:00PM
Sharon
8/15/98
(...)
“Man who run in front of car get tired”
“Man who run behind car get exhausted”
 
Google Groups: acadia.chat
Spike..
coco2000
6/4/99
(...)
“Man who run in front of car get tired”
“Man who run behind car get exhausted”
   
A Prairie Home COmpanion with Garrison Keillor
FIFTH ANNUAL JOKE SHOW
Joke Submissions (April 1, 2000—ed.)
Chinese Proverbs….

Man who run in front of car get tired.
Man who run behind car get exhausted.
(...)
Dale Moore, Lawton, MI
 
Google Books
My Little Bit of Nonsense
By Charlie Walker
Wakefield: C. Walker
2000
Pg. 4:
Chinese Proverbs
Man who run in front of car get tired.
Man who run behind car get exhausted.
 
Google Books
A Collection of Jokes and Funny Stories
By Marvin Lebman
Victoria, BC: Trafford Publishing
2004
Pg. 32:
CHINESE PROVERBS
(...)
3. “Man who run in front of car get tired”
4. “Man who run behind car get exhausted”
 
Google News Archive
12 December 2007, Lake Region Times (Madison Lake, MN), “Odds ‘n Ends” by Jerry Groebner, pg. 2, col. 2:
Old Saying
Confucius say: “Man who run behind can get exhausted, but man who run in front of car get tired.”
 
Urban Dictionary
Confucious
An ironical misspelling of Confucius, an ancient Chinese philosopher. The pun usually lies in the double meaning of the wise words of Mr. Confucious.
Confucious Said: “Man who run in front of car get tired. Man who run behind car get exhausted.”
#confucious #confucius #ancient #chinese #philosopher #ironical #misspelling #pun #double meaning
by Confucious Himself October 20, 2008
 
Google Books
Up, Up, Over the Hill & Beyond
By Tony Barone
Lulu Publishing (Lulu.com)
2011
Pg. 86:
CHINESE PROVERBS
Man who run in front of car get tired.
Man who run behind car get exhausted.
 
Google Books
Tourism and Humour
By Philip L. Pearce and Anja Pabel
Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications
2015
Pg. 53:
What’s the difference between ‘tired’ and ‘exhausted’?
When you run in front of a car, you get tired. When you run after a car, you get exhausted.
     
reddit
What’s the difference between tired and exhausted?
submitted June 30, 2016 by rbk4life
When you run in front of a car, you get tired
When you run behind a car, you get exhausted.
 
reddit
What’s the difference between being tired and exhausted?
submitted July 1, 2016 by spikedawson
If you run in front of a car, you get tired.
If you run behind one, you get exhausted.